Seren Ffordd - Veils, Shadows
Artist: Seren Ffordd
Title: Veils, Shadows
Label: Hypnos Secret Sounds
hss13, limited cdr edition of 300
Veils, Shadows is the Hypnos debut of a unique talent, whose work is both mysterious and unusual,
resulting in a sound at once listenable and challenging. Seren Ffordd has mostly been released on the Umbra
and Penumbra labels operated (by Hypnos artist Oophoi) out of Italy, though the artist himself resides in
Wales. His first connection to Hypnos came through the compilation CD Sounds of a Universe Overheard,
but Hypnos released Veils, Shadows on Hypnos Secret Sounds before the compilation's release.
Describing Veils, Shadows, Seren Ffordd himself says:
"I had the idea of the title first, and wanted to explore something that had many shades and layers -- with
some slow movements and some drones, but also some dynamics and unexpected changes. I wanted
some pleasant harmonics but also edginess, sounds shifting in a way that could be dream-like but not
soporific, like shadows coming out of the mists into more solid form before drifting off again...
Overall Veils, Shadows is about other realms and perceptions."
Seren Ffordd is one of those few artists perfectly in tune with what we're trying to do here at Hypnos, which
is explore atmospheres that are dark without being "industrial" or intentionally abrasive, rather more hypnotic
and dreamy, with a dose of the surreal. We're pleased and excited to introduce his work to those listeners who are
familiar with Hypnos, and interested in sound worlds like this, but who have not yet heard this particular sound. We're
sure Seren Ffordd will end up being acclaimed and much-discussed in coming years.
Track listing (with mp3 sample clips):
01 Slow Passing 18:29 MP3 clip
02 River of Souls 12:01 MP3 clip
03 Distant Paths 16:53 MP3 clip
04 Veils, Shadows 16:37 MP3 clip
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Reviews
"Seren Ffordd prefers contemplation over cinema—Veils, Shadows makes palpable all manners of sentient drift permeating the foggy bottom of humid Irish moors. Druggy horns howl out beyond sunburnt horizons, while guitar drones vainly signal to the unsuspecting populace what lies beneath. Ffordd’s sharp enough to vary his incessant drones so as to dash cliché to the sodden earth; working with potent hues of glass, gourds, even frame drums (plus sundry ubiquitous electronic processing techniques) reveals calamitous happenings deep within the record’s eerie spectrum that’s leagues ahead of numerous other bedroom drone interns."--Darren Bergstein, Signal To Noise magazine
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"A great new album by Seren Fford on the Hypnos label. Nice to hear some tribal ambient for a change. Very well done, too."
--Scott Raymond, WVKR radio