Distant Works II by Secret Pyramid (Review)

Earlier this year, Secret Pyramid (Amir Abbey’s solo ambient project) released Distant Works II, which Abbey describes as “equal parts alien and serene.” That’s a very apt description for Secret Pyramid’s oeuvre, which consists of ambient soundscapes that are as haunting and beautiful as they are eerie and ominous.

That becomes immediately apparent with “IV,” one of the Distant Works II preview tracks. Playing what I imagine to be a church organ in some long-lost cathedral in the middle of a darkened, forgotten forest, Abbey creates an atmosphere full of grandeur and majesty shadowed by melancholy. Although “IV” initially seems largely static, patient listeners will be rewarded by subtle sonic shifts that seem to have epic consequences.

“VII” continues this mood, though Abbey’s somber synth-scapes are roughened by tape fuzz and field recordings which cast the song in an even stranger light. All in all, more excellent twilit ambience by one of my new favorites in the genre; highly recommended if you’re a fan of Labradford and Deaf Center.