I have been following Rusty Pilgrim since the 2022’s Woodland Gathering by Deionarra. Here was an Argentinian based DS artist making dreamy synth which wasn’t afraid to flirt with things not apart of the genre. I feel you can look upon the work of Rusty Pilgrim, a label which is almost entirely made up of the creators projects, as an exercise in being in a genre but always looking to bend the rules. A Dungeon Synth Tribute to the Cure isn’t something that isn’t immediately obvious but seeing the reception for this compilation was something else with people suddenly having a core memory stirred in them. This sort of excitement can only be created by a label which has a handle on what is cool, quite obvious with the opening cover of “Plainsong,” and a group of musicians who are dedicated int translating their love into their own style. While there are some well known contributors such as Ithildin, Spaceseer, and Silent Cabin, the majority of these artists are an intriguing mystery and an afternoon for me to investigate. Knights Don’t Cry is something magical, emotional, and unexpected as dungeon synth seems to be a language that is understood across multiple genres and has the ability to bring people together and pull their sleeves over their hands.
Is it that time of the year again? Oh my I am feeling a bit sleepy where did this mug of tea come from oh look at this blanket. Grandma’s Cottage is funny since for as much as it tries to be droll and humorous, the history of dungeon synth has been warped by this act and an entire substyle can really be laid at the feet of this project. For as comical as the exterior looks, the success of Grandma’s Cottage also rests in its ability to knit the spectrum of nostalgia into a short release. Longing, sadness, joy, and distance sentimentality as all threads of a blanket which have for some reason resonating with an entrinley new community of people who probably also have black metal patches on their jackets. If one needs an example listen to “distant engines” which by all accounts could be a dungeon synth song pulled from the antisocial times of 1990s. Now put a sweater on it.
I wish I could tell you more about Verdant Wisdom but its like trying to capture smoke in a box. Wintertide Tales: A Compilation is a compilation of new (?) material from the Verdant Wisdom roster all dedicated to the season of winter. Legacy acts such as Winterseer, USSK, and Middlewood appear on the compilation along with acts I never have heard of before. in fact, I don’t know if i am suppose to hear them until now. Again smoke in a box. Half of enjoying Verdant Wisdom is knowing that something uncanny has appeared in your presence much like a stoic owl who appeared on the branch in front of you. there is a sense of adventure since the music from this label is nothing you expect since they do not deal with the conventional. From the icy other worldly sounds of Hibernal Stanza to the lush dreaming melodies of Middlewood, there is magic in this label along with an acute sense of the uncanny.
“Recorded live to 2 tracks of a 4 track cassette in September 2024, using Yamaha CS Reface, Korg Volca FM2, and Volca Bass. Winter Synth and Kosmische music with dungeon alignment.Tapes coming soon from Realm and Ritual.” It is almost near comedy how much happens when you dont keep track of what Adam Matlock (The Hermablists, Mycologia, Pendragon) is doing all of a sudden there is something new and amazing you were not expecting. Wander the Fourpath Range, much like the description, is a mediation on what dungeon synth would sound like if fully embracing its cosmic roots. While there certainly is an element of raw direct to tape recording, the result of this near hour long release is something that lies beyond the realms of production with sound that is formed by dying stars.
“Journeys Through Wold and Bog is a second official soundtrack album written by Tales Under The Oak and produced in collaboration with Necrotic Gnome that is embracing the journeys through various regions of the Dolmenwood RPG realm, feeding on the balance between the natural ambiences, subtle music and sounddesign.” Necrotic Gnome cant keep getting away with doing cool things, they always are winning. Seeing a collaboration like this was not only enchanting but also surprising even though I shouldn’t be surprised anymore. While Tales From Under The Oak has done fantastic work with fantasy synth, this release specially is atmospheric background music intended to be played whole playing the game. If you are a weirdo and like listening to library music or functional music made by people for an independent tabletop game that sounds like ghosts dancing int he forest, then come on down to Dolmenwood and be dark and eerie for an eternity.
It is certainly that time of the season when the clock strikes December 25th and a winter ambient record with pre christian themes are released with amazing track titles like “Stellar Dendrite.” I wrote about Snawfauss in relation to the 2023 split with Foglord that was released through Fiadh. the name stuck with me and was flagged when I saw Quiet Seasons being modestly released on December 25th. this is most certainly music that is made for wandering by yourself in the forests after a snow fall. It is entirely solitary and is rooted in a deep love for nature and contemplation. Embrace yourself in DS and also post rock styled melodies which all sing the same chorus of content solitude.
Damn look at that tape design. Amazing. Chalice of Wyrms is a french project from the creator Sylfvr. Though the description alludes to cozy melodies and maybe a bit of whimsy some of the strengths in Chalice of Wyrms is its ability to become hyptnoic with its percussion heavy hymns and write songs about the heads of dragons that breath fire. This is cozy and whimsical as long as you are okay with hallucinatory imagery that is esoteric and surreal. The success of this release, much liek the creators other projects, is having a direct idea of what they are going to be doing and showcasing their vision for the rest of us.
“Piano for underwater solace and contemplation.” I didn’t know this is exactly what I have been wanting for so many years I just didn’t know there was a name for it. I actually was aware of Sjöhäxan when I wrote about them for the Fiadh Productions article. there is only so many sea based melancholic piano albums out there you are going to run into it again. Black Squall, much like its predecessor cast the listener into a world of nautical nostalgia and turns anyone, as strong as they maybe, into people gazing out into the watery forever.
Hell yeah this isn’t DS at all, what is this doing here why am I crowd surfing. Steelhead is something that could only come from Moonworshipper and its creator who is listed just as “Bill.” Rogue Wave is a noisy garage punk record that is seemingly about fish or fishing. You should expect nothing from Moonworshipper, who for years has harbored the too weird for DS acts, and enjoy everything that comes from this label. I know you are here for synth but what about sharp stick and a stick and a 6 pack of beer instead ?