Ether Diver - Tales Of Etherspace

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Ether Diver’s Tales Of Etherspace is synth-based music that overflows with fascinating sounds and complex textural interactions. The album weaves a tapestry of gentle, dark, unsettling, distorted and energetic synth sounds that hides unexpected twists and turns within its threads.

The sheer variety and range of the synth sounds used on Tales Of Etherspace is a large factor in my interest in the album. Ether Diver explores the full scope of sonic variety that synthesizers can create. The sounds run the gamut from distorted wobbles to piercing metallic jangling, exploring unique timbres and tones on the way. I couldn’t get bored with this album because there’s always a new auditory tidbit to hear.

One pleasant surprise for me on Tales Of Etherspace is the melodies that arise from out of the wild intricacy of the album’s sonic environment. The melodic content is often expressive and full of emotion, in contrast to the experimental complexities that surround it. I enjoy the extra depth the melodic writing adds to the overall sound of the album.

The use of sonic contrast is another feature of the album that I find compelling. Ether Diver creates many musical moments in which contrast between different sounds adds more layers and complexity to the overall picture. There are contrasts between darkness and light, delicacy and weight and in dynamics as well. The end result is increased richness and depth in the album.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“No Gods; Only Monsters” opens as a small, dark synth sound pulses and bounces, quickly joined by medium-high, echoing synth dancing out. Thick, strong drums throb and bright, elevated synth flashes out with a flaring light. Bouncing drums pop behind the other sonic elements as the slightly rough edged, glowing synth carries a hopeful melody above it.

I enjoy the yearning feeling in the melody as it unfolds. The surging melodic segment is broken by rising, twisting notes and the steady, hollow and bouncing drum keeps pulsating to guide the music. A tight, thin sound weaves through with a gentle feeling melody and below it the drums and bass add depth and weight.

Powerfully throbbing drums create a gigantic heartbeat as “Simple Waveforms on a Magnetic Medium” begins.  Medium-low, broad-sounding synth carries a melody that mingles power and shadowy energy while a wandering synth with a vocal quality drifts through.

Raised, gleaming synth carries a well-crafted, mysterious and gentle melody along with flickering chimes. The track floats out into a resonant, metallic synth swirl below a higher, hissing sound and broken percussion. The lost, delicate and enigmatic melody floats and then fades into quiet.

An actively oscillating bassline moves below raised, gleaming synth to kick off “Any Day Can Be Bicycle Day (If Your Mind is in the Right Gear).” A series of metallic percussion sounds and a hollow, steady drumbeat creates a powerful sense of propulsion below the medium high, nasal sounding synth carrying a tender, softly caressing melody.

I am drawn to the way in which that melody moves in chopped segments. Another percussive pulse taps out a slow rhythm as a dense, rushing sound roars through the music. The slowly wandering, bright melody keeps spinning out above the low end’s massive power. An indistinct voice chatters in the background while the hollow drums reverberate and the thudding beat continues as more fragile sounds wander over top and the music fades.

“Twisted Trees, Winter Tiger” starts as hollow, distant sounds swirl and reverberating bass pulses.  A radio transmission echoes out into vast field of air, giving the impression of outer space’s openness. The distant voice is surrounded by emptiness, sounding forlorn. A rumbling sound is touched by ethereal, diaphanous sounds and a steadily expanding noise. I enjoy the utter desolation which has been created in this track.

Vibrating, twisting synths flow out in trembling lines as an elevated, slowly sweeping sound floats through to open “Coven of the Outer Dark.” Bubbling, wobbly vibrations move underneath as a sharp, tense sound cuts in. Clean, raised synth chimes in to add brittle brightness as long lines of lower sound move into the open space around them.

Watery bass spills out through the music to form a pleasingly undulating line as razor-edged sounds shift. Distant, elevated sounds shimmers constantly over the sweeping medium-high synths and the aquatic upwelling below. Raised, flickering synths begin to fade out into silence as the track ends.

“Desire for Freedom Does Not Beget Freedom from Desire” comes to life as an active, dense sound forms a slightly uneven rhythm underneath brassy, distorted synth carrying a roaming melody. The lead melody drifts in flashing notes out over a rubbery bassline which quickly becomes a deeper well.

Sonic fragments flow with wandering, uneven motion. I am drawn to the fragmentary synth’s lackadaisical quality as it contrasts with steady bass depths.  The track breaks into an actively shifting bassline and fades on the choppy, roving melody.

Sparkling, raised synth delicately echoes out in a mournful line to bring “Even the Strongest Swimmers Falter Among the Tides of History” into being. Elevated notes flow and a deep gong rings before being broken by a higher gong. Ultra-high synth wheedles through the music as the sounds of bird song and nature move in.  Warmer synth flows up to surround the listener’s ears as rough-edged, heavy bass contrasts with the lighter sonic elements.

Tightly wound synth trembles through the music, sounding lost and untethered over the gigantic drum and bass weight dropping underneath.  Gongs ring out in a gleaming melodic pattern that pulls me into the track. There’s haunted sound flowing along with more aquatic noises as the chiming high synths ring out in their flickering pattern and the track ends.

Conclusion

Tales Of Etherspace is experimental synth music that doesn’t lose sight of the fact that it can still be enjoyable as a listening experience. Ether Diver seems to realize that experimental music can still remain ear-pleasing and engaging while exploring boundaries. To learn more about Ether Diver, visit Bandcamp here.