Docetism: Breaking the Circle of Life (Nichts/Bandcamp)

Docetism loosely refers in religion to the notion that Christ’s body was illusory or absent, that because Christ was was divine he could not inhabit a human form. This EP of dreamy underwater ambience makes nods in a variety of directions philosophically, touching on ambiguous legends or beliefs such as the quest for the Holy Grail (“Parsifal”) or transcendental meditation (“Samadhi”). It begins like a fog rolling in, hazy and obscured, with the airy opener “Three Poisons.” But about hafway through the second track, “Parsifal,” a quiet pulse begins to reveal itself, and then the music takes on a quality not unlike Loscil, The Sight Below, or Wolfgang Voigt’s most sublime material as Gas. “Forest Monks” undulates with looping string pads, deep reverb, and choral vocalizations in the periphery. His use of choral bits and phrases recalls the gloomy melancholy of 90s dark ambient acts like Raison d’Être or Delerium (before they went the route of pop music), but its techno pulse ties it to the present and gives it a necessary edge of urgency.

<a href=“http://nichts.bandcamp.com/album/breaking-the-circle-of-life” data-mce-href=“http://nichts.bandcamp.com/album/breaking-the-circle-of-life”>Breaking the Circle of Life by Docetism</a>

Docetism ups the ante with the choral looping of “The Wheel of Ixion Stands Still,” probably the gloomiest and most heavy-handed of these cuts (though that’s merely relatively speaking). It ends with the elegiac poise of “Salmadhi,” a handsome finale that brings the muted pulse of the release to a close. Fans of electronic headphones listening will likely enjoy the dense atmospheres on display here, particularly handsome when turned up loud to feel that underlying deep throb. Available on Bandcamp for any price; consider donating if you enjoy this music.

Get it now: Bandcamp