Reviews:

Press Release (Soleilmoon May 1996)

"Errant Angels" is the second installment in a trio of Rapoon CDs to be released by Soleilmoon. "Recurring (Dream Circle), released in April, was the first in this series. "Darker By Light", will complete the trilogy, in early June. This aggressive release schedule will culminate with an extensive Canadian and US tour, beginning in Toronto in early July. A complete itinerary will be announced soon. Watch for advertising in Alternative Press, ND, Industrial Nation and i/e magazines.

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One of the more rhythmic, percussive and ritualistic works by the ex-:zoviet*france: mastermind, Errant angels might have the broadest appeal because its almost a signature work, made of exactly the ingredients that Rapoon should be known for. This is the best place for a new listener to start, although I cant see anyone who enjoys most Manifold material to not be into Rapoon. Errant Angels has a sorrowful, almost sad tone to it. The peaks and valleys are either very high or very low, at times scraping the clouds with an "angelic" majesty, but then swimming through rock and dirt below ground as it explores dystopic ambience that sounds like the death-wails of haunters and lost souls. Sections of this disc will not allow themselves to be forgotten. One of those works that you will think about the day after you listened to it, its tone and soul imbedded in your memory until your hear it again.

review from the Manifold Records catalog

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Don't know what it is about the North East England, must be something in the water. What with lan Boddy, Ron Berry and Robin Storey (Rapoon) the talent is there in abundance. This latest CD (of about 5 CD releases) is exceptionally good. The lead 27 min starts with a double heartbeat style percussive rhythm from layers of tribal drums, , a distant, rumbling undercurrent and very distant electronic layers, creating a passage so hypnotic and beautiful, transfixing you with the soundscapes and rhythms. Over the course of the next 10 mins, the piece flows on, changing the rhythm textures very subtly and adding choral samples and synth rivers until the 10 min point when the rhythms die away and a massive multi-textured drone begins, like the engines of some giant inter-galactic craft roaring into life with all sorts of distant electronics and samples way in the background. At 12 mins a distant drum rhythm begins and continues to 14 mins when the unbelievable intensity decreases, a definite didge sound is heard within the drone, as a new tribal rhythm begins- a brilliant change and continuation of the sonic structuring process. At 18 mins, the drone fades leaving the perc rhythms and synths/flutes soaring away in the background, climbing ever higher, a pattern that continues to the end of the track. Track 2 begins with a rhythm sounding more like a car starting up in overdrive, which gradually takes a background role as a very atmospheric selection of bass and synth undercurrents well up from below, again thickly textured and atmospheric, changing shape over its 8 min length. The following 3 tracks continue in a similar vein, setting up a sonic sculpture of rhythms, undercurrents and textures from percussives, electronics and samples, adding and taking away sound patterns to create compositions of stark, beautiful, full-sounding, ethereal qualities on a new form of ambient music. This is a unique listening pleasure, as are all Rapoon CD's, that'll keep you interested for years to come.

review by Andrew Garibaldi
CD Services, Dundee