Artist : Petrels Album : Haeligewielle Year : 2011 Genre : Ambient Quality : 248kbps / 44.1KHz / Joint Stereo Source : CD Playtime : 0h 50m Size : 91.67mb Label : Tartaruga Records Catalognr : Tracklist: 01. After Francis Danby 8:00 02. Silt 3:48 03. Canute 6:18 04. The Statue Is Unveiled With The Face Of Another 7:14 05. Concrete 7:12 06. Winchester Croydon Winchester 2:49 07. William Walker Strengthens The Foundations 15:00 Releasenotes: In the 1950Æs a scientist discovered a low frequency that was capable of inducing a feeling of fear and dread. When sounds of this frequency were played to concert goers in one experiment there were reports of an unexplained feeling of panic from several members of the audience. You probably wonder why IÆm telling you this in a review of the debut Petrels album Haeligewielle. The answer is that I believe this same frequency is present on the opening track After Francis Danby, which groans and creaks to life like a ghost ship being lifted from the water. ItÆs followed by what can only be described as a haunting sea shanty, a slow eight minute drone that strikes fear into my heart but at the same time awe at the ability to craft such a mood. Were it dark outside, I would be hiding under the desk. The diving suit artwork of the albumÆs cover perfectly indicates the oceanic tendencies of the music on offer here. ItÆs instrumental music with a well crafted story that swells as if it were an ocean of sound. All the music on offer here follows a similar pattern with a low moaning punctuating most of the pieces, always eerie, always there but along with all the noise are less jarring melodies that crop up, take for example, The Statue is Unveiled with the Face of Another, a song with a calming and swaying sound, helped by sudden scrapes of a violin bow, still suggesting that haunted ship that the first track invokes. By the fifth track youÆre not expecting any kind of let up from the endless chasms of fuzz, but out of the blue comes æConcreteÆ a stunning almost gospel song, with a choir and strings lifting the album from the depths and into the sunlight, if only briefly. Francis Danby, who IÆm assuming the opening piece was named after, was an Irish painter famous for dramatic landscapes and one in particular of a shipwreck stands out, how fitting. Haeligewielle too is an album full of dramatic landscapes. IÆm not going to lie and pretend that itÆs for everyone because this is not, itÆs the sort of album an art aficionado might ponder for hours and never get any further with their conclusions. ItÆs not a piece with any hidden meanings to decipher and thatÆs the beauty of it. A deluge of noise and melodies that were made for the enjoyment of those who can, IÆm not going to suggest that everyone who hears the album will be taken in by its constant droning and distortion but on the third or fourth listen IÆve begun to feel rather fond of it. Not exactly a party starter but itÆs an album clearly made by someone passionate and it all shines or rather sails through in the music. PetrelsÆ first effort is a definite piece of work but probably not ideal for repeated listens, treat it like your special cutlery and get it out only when itÆs appropriate, itÆs surprisingly rewarding. Aidan Rivett, beardrock.com. http://petrels.bandcamp.com/