Hypnagogue

Lovers of drone-based ambient would do well to take a listen to Sky Burial’s Of the First Light. Dense layers of processed guitars flirt with the borderline of noise and industrial without ever stepping over the line. Of the First Light is labyrinthine, dark and yet at the same time
sonically soothing—the feel of the drones grabbing hold of the mind and folding it back, opening it to the music’s effect. There is a distinct spatial sensibility across the breadth of this CD, a sharply delineated foreground, background, and distance, with things going on constantly at all levels. Of the First Light is a steady recording built on a unique foundation and identity. There’s not much differentiation from track to track, but it’s all solidly done and it maintains its thick, grim-edged tone the whole way through. A intriguing listen that demands close attention and repeat play.