Amethystium

ambient

Amethystium is a music project aiming to create and explore emotive imaginary worlds in sound. Primarily electronic-based, the compositions traverse a span of moods that includes both light and darkness, bliss and melancholy. They range from the purely relaxing to the subtly intense, creating dreamlike and evocative musical journeys. Formed by Norwegian composer/producer Øystein Ramfjord, Amethystium started out independently with a demo release in late 1999. After quickly becoming something of an underground phenomenon through word of mouth, the project was signed to then EMI/Capitol subsidiary Neurodisc Records and released a string of three Top 10 Billboard charting albums in the US. Amethystium is his solo mission. The name is not as memorable as Tangerine Dream or Deep Forest, yet musically, Amethystium shares common ground with both acts. Ramfjord's mix of electronics, pop-dance rhythms, and some requisite sonic oddities (subdued Middle Eastern vocals, Gregorian chant, random dollops of native flutes) yields solid results, offering sufficient style and mystery to merit repeated play on an out-there, candlelit night. Amethystium could be described as a subtler Delerium, a less self-conscious Enigma, or a second cousin to Mythos. Ramfjord favors a lighter, spacier vibe than most of the aforementioned acts, though. And at his best (on sparkling/pulsing tracks such as Calantha, Odyssey, and Arcane Voices), he sends an intriguing helix of melody lines on a slow swir...