This is a very interesting disc from Canberra's (previously, Tokyo's) Mystral Tide, a band featured on the "Dissonant Structures" DCD compilation of last year. This disc might be a year old but is well worth tracking down.

The CD is largely instrumental and each track is unique with a common thread running throughout. What little vocals exist are unusually low in the mix, and are distorted and delayed, sounding very similar to the vocal treatments used sometimes by Velvet Acid Christ. Musically, most tracks seem to be based around a simple but repetitive monolithic bass sound with classically influenced piano forming a central feature. This is the main element which differentiates between this CD and a lot of EBM because while it is grounded in EBM, the piano gives the music a dramatic, orchestral feel.

The best track on the album is "Force", starting off with a creepy synth line before a dense bass is lowered into the mix. There doesn't seem to be any percussion whatsoever in this track, which kind of reminds me of the theme music for the "Halloween" films. Listen to this track in a darkened room. This CD is definitely worth hearing. If you can't find the disc, there are some mp3s available for download at www.mystraltide.com. 8/10. - Jay

There's something intrinsically dramatic & dark about this long player from ex-Tokyo producer Ivan Bullock, now facing a significantly lower skyline in hometown Canberra. Released without a great deal of fuss sometime ago on domestic label Zeitgeist, it's available afresh (www.zeitgeistrecords.com), supported by his ability to do live shows locally.

There are elements of trance, industrial, ambient & even gothic amongst the surging grandeur of the string soaked, piano riveted, melodically anthemic electronics. Describing this first album journey as taking an "industrial/classical route, Bullock also advises that in the year or so since it's initial release overseas, the Mystral Tide sound has shifted as it scans the horizon for its future.

It's this 'Medieval facing the technology future' image which illustrates so well the stirring chordal shifts & mythically tenebrous mood that spans the 15 tracks herein, where shadowy, dialogue invaded intros allow lurking electronics to eventually swell & charge from the misty backdrops. As a listener it's quite easy to concoct widescreen darkworld fantasies unfolding to the synthesised & orchestrated rhapsodies.

Thank you BMA (Canberra Entertainment Guide) and Drum Media (Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and Canberra Magazine) for your support and mention of our home coming, and upcoming live events.

Ambient and medieval inspired Gothic/Darkwave/Industrial solo project based in Japan. Nice site in English, with Japanese and German versions planned. Bleak imagery really doesnt work on cheery approaches, which leaves the bio/news a touch neutered. Ivan Bullock's solo Darkwave rumblings will impress.

The latest entrant to Tokyo's growing ranks of one-man production units working in tiny, six-tatami-mat recording studios is Mystral Tide, aka Australian expat Ivan Bullock.

A Tokyo resident of three years, Bullock seems to have spent most of his time at home with his keyboards, effects and mixers, if his debut album is anything to go by. A decidedly moody work influenced by industrial-oriented dance music, Whirlpool of Souls is a carefully constructed album that shows the results of Bullock's years of classical study of the violin and piano.

The album kicks off with the ambient atmospherics of 'Abandoned,' before continuing through 13 dark yet danceable tracks with names like 'Sinner' and 'Creation' that indicate the artists spiritual concerns.

The mp3 of "Altercated" track "Forged", was requested and included on the CD-ROM accompanying this issue of Japanese PC and technology magazine, Windows 100%.