"Periphera delves the mist-strewn landscapes of imagination, conjuring from few elements a captivating work both as a dedicated listen and (fittingly) as peripheral ambient auditory decoration"
The ever-essential 12th Isle serve some truly peripheral music as the latest addition to their catalogue from live-focussed London trio Pataphysical. In much the same vein as their vinyl debut of XYR’s heavenly ambient masterpiece El Dorado, Periphera delves the mist-strewn landscapes of imagination, conjuring from few elements a captivating work both as a dedicated listen and (fittingly) as peripheral ambient auditory decoration.
As with every 12th Isle release to date the physical product is of paramount importance and exhibits a quality that is nearly without peer. Periphera, for all it’s journeying components, would be half the record it was without the correct structure and magnificent accompanying psychedelic artwork. Opening with the aptly-titled and softly luminescent synth work of “Dream Reveal”, the LP spirals deeper and nearer to the centre of a limbo-world across the 8 tracks — which could perhaps be better labelled as movements or scenarios.
The first act (side A) is a dewy dreamworld, undercut by a soft undertow pulling the listener unawares through illusory worlds of eddying colour and morphic structure. “Aun Cyc”, bolstered by a dub-heavy bass, stutters across a procedurally generating landscape, iterative loops developing more of the full picture with each wash. Album closer “Energen” sinks into a hypnagogic trance, teasing the borders of rest and discomfort with shifting chord structures and high-tone whistles.
Most works are of a meditative nature, and each piece is evocative of some liminal vision, like experiencing deja vu in a dream-state — perhaps as a result of Pataphysical being a primarily live experience, with this marking their first venture into recorded material.
‘Periphera’ is releases 24th June on vinyl and digital formats. Order a copy from Bandcamp.
TRACKLIST
1. Dream Reveal
2. Aun Cyc
3. Prius
4. Montoon
5. Protae
6. Ken World
7. Purlo
8. Energen
Discover more about Pataphysical and 12th Isle on Inverted Audio.