THE PLACE WHERE THE BLACK STARS HANG

This album is nothing less than the true offspring of Tangerine Dream's "Zeit". A similar concept, ambient minimalism meant to convey the vast emptiness of the universe, it succeeds admirably, but a warning: nothing much happens. Little squawking sounds and distant rhythms repeat, weave in and out, and fade, all sounding as if they really are transmitted from the other side of the universe. One piece, "Dark Companion", features what sounds like a mellotron choir, repeating a ghostly mantra much like on Popol Vuh's "Brüder Des Schattens - Söhne Des Lichts". There's a reason why this is called "Dark Ambient", and Lustmord is a master of it. This record is sparse and ominous, not even close to New Age wallpaper music. Perfect for a dark, rainy night with the lights off, but don't bother if you need a lot of stuff going on in your music.