I’ve always been intrigued by the genre of ambiance simply because of how you can make something incredibly dissonant be so amazingly interactive and intimate at the same time. Then the simple fact that the style can be taken in so many different directions at the flick of a wrist is always a bonus, and there are many bands who’ve done with stupendously. Neraterræ is an act that has definitely done such, and with his newest album, this artist takes a retrospective trip that is laced with the talent that this project quickly expanded upon.

Initially starting out under the moniker of Nhart, Neraterræ had the intention of releasing these nine tracks across three separate demos in 2009 and 2010, but for one reason or another, that never came to pass. Seven years later, under the redesigned name of Neraterræ, this single man project has finally allowed these tracks to see the light of day. They’ve also had a good touch up and remastering, remixing, and such for good measure. And what ensues is a very tasteful and dark approach to the ambiance that you can easily allow yourself to drift in without giving an absolute toss about what happens outside of your little pocket dimension. All of “The NHART Demo[n]s” have a very soothing sound to them despite constantly dipping in and out of being absolutely menacing whether it be because of the raw power that is always kept behind strick bars, but you can hear it rumbling in the background. It really gives these pieces a really special flavor to them that you really have to appreciate because not only do they sound good seven-plus years after their inception, but they also show that the man behind Neraterræ really has grown over the years. That’s if you take the time to investigate the rest of his material (which is well worth it). These former demos are brilliant in their nature and the kind of stuff that not only shows that the ambient genre has potential but that Neraterræ has plenty of talent to pass around, and that’s always a fantastic thing.

Retrospective and hindsight is almost always a good thing as it can show you past mistakes and allow you to learn from past experiences, and it’s that knowledge we carry forward that allows us to improve on what we will do. That’s especially true for music as musicians are constantly improving themselves, and “The NHART Demo[s]” are definitely proof that Neraterræ is learning from his past. Take that into account and it’s impossible to say that the man hasn’t improved incredibly so.

LISTEN to “The NHART Demo[s]” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Neraterrae on Facebook here.