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15 Degrees Below Zero
Morphine Dawn

Crunchpod Media

Posted: Tuesday, March 21, 2006
By: Ilker Yucel
Editor

15 Degrees Below Zero have created a dark ambient masterpiece with this four-track EP. A preview of things to come from their upcoming full-length, Under a Morphine Sky, Morphine Dawn is the trio's studio debut. Not since John Bergin's C₁₇H₁₉NO₃ or Tomandandy's soundtrack to The Mothman Prophecies (the Rorschach test splatter moth image on the cover had nothing to do with this comparison, although it is an appropriate visual companion) has there been music like this; a combination of ambient noise and symphonic textures, this music can best be described as an industrial soundtrack. These four tracks conjure up images of decay and ruin, like hovering over an apocalyptic wasteland. While it is all entirely instrumental (or maybe not... who knows if any voices crept into the mix), there is nothing lost from the absence of lyrics or vocals. On the contrary, this music gets into your head and induces a multitude of emotions simultaneously. At once, the presence of a guitar keeps the listener grounded in some sense of familiarity that would be comforting if not for the wall of sound behind it. On the other hand, the disparate structure and aural dissonance can cause some disheartening effects on the human body; one can wonder if the production, as good as it sounds, might be so good that there are frequencies in the music the human ear is not meant to hear. However, this EP is not without its flaws. The four tracks run together, which makes for a continuous cacophony of dark atmosphere that would not be boring, but would also be uncomfortable after too long. While it supports the case that the music works within a conceptual context, it does not help that there is little to no variety to keep the listener interested for too long. One can only stare at the aftermath of the apocalypse for so long before the need to turn your eyes away kicks in. There are moments where a melody can be detected, primarily from the guitars, but these do not occur until the end track, "Sunshine." It provides a pleasant end that encapsulates the EP's title. Make no mistake, there is beauty in ugliness, and Morphine Dawn exemplifies this notion brilliantly. It is not easy listening. It is not ambient the way Deep Forest or Enigma is considered ambient. 15 Degrees Below Zero's music possesses a dark atmosphere resounding throughout that compels you to listen even if it causes you pain. Not everyone will enjoy it; in fact, some may even hate it. There is not much in the way of mass appeal with their music, which may cause problems for them to be heard and/or accepted by a larger audience. But if you have an open mind and an eye/ear for the complex dichotomy of beauty and ugliness coexisting within a piece of art or music, then 15 Degrees Below Zero's Morphine Dawn will provide you with a listening experience you are sure to like.