When Impulse Nine’s cinematic opus “Call of the Void” opens with drone and brass horn sounds you might not expect the distorted field that comes into the track that cycles up and then back down before the song takes off further into a mysterious horizons as suggested by the title. One might be excused for imagining a collaboration between SunnO))) and Philip Glass composing especially as the hazy clears into the spaciousness of a pristine piano melody warped ever so slightly by reverse delay processing to just give it a tinge of the weird and otherworldly at the edges. The piano becomes more urgent and discordant as the song swings right back into fiery, distorted, engulfing drones like something you’d expect to hear in a Mogwai song, punctuated by majestic piano chords and processional percussion. Impulse Nine really sustains the moods throughout while coming together as a kind of heavy music orchestra that expertly shifts complementary tones and textural elements so that even with the drones going it never feels static. Rather, you feel like the song is taking you somewhere you want to go even if you don’t know where that might be. The mix is so well blended that you can hear the glimmer of piano and keyboard melody clearly in the blaze of guitar sounds drum accents in the last half of the song and the contrast of the more distorted sounds with those more pristine establishes an elevated mood but one that inspires reflection and acceptance. In the last portions of the song the foundational elements shift slowly into a tranquil dynamic that is as soothing as it is satisfying like you’ve really been through something glorious with the band and it’s time to let go of those peak moments and embrace the peace with which the song leaves you. Listen to “Call of the Void” on Spotify, its seventeen minute length seems to go by quickly, and follow Impulse Nine at the links provided.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
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