Ain Soph
I

THE REVIEW

The Ain Soph are a group - or better yet, an entity - legendary for having gained a small but selective following over the years, achieving true cult status. Formed in the early '80s in Rome, they began their activity by releasing a series of tapes not intended for publication but meant as true "magical" rituals. These were sound experiments inspired by magical texts, particularly the thoughts of Aleister Crowley and his tome "Magick." The approach was extremely naive but nonetheless had a unique evocative power and genuine feeling. The sounds created an esoteric and mystical atmosphere, a worthy accompaniment to a book by Julius Evola or an occult novel by Gustav Meyrink. Fortunately, the value of these recordings did not go unnoticed, so much so that Misty Circles took an interest in them, releasing the first three works under the name Ain Soph on cassette, which together constitute a true trilogy of magical thought.

Surely, comparisons can be made with the early Current93, standard-bearers of the esoteric-industrial, but, in reality, the ability to assemble the sound sources of that mythical project is missing here. The experience closest to that of Ain Soph in Italy was, in some ways, that of Sigillum S, an industrial group that, in works like "Bardo Thos Grol," explored similar sound and mystical universes (not coincidentally, the two groups also shared a tape published by Cthulhu). However, despite the evident roughness of the sound material, the fact that it was an experience going beyond mere musical discourse made these experiments somewhat unique (so much so that, personally, I prefer them even to the aforementioned and much-loved Current93).

Later, the Roman group would be capable of releasing more complex and elaborate albums like "Kshatriya" and "Ars Regia." Fortunately, the meritorious Old Europa Café rereleased the entire mentioned and legendary trilogy, starting with this "I."

"I" is the band's first work and captures all the energy of that mythical period. Imagine being in a desecrated church while a black mass is celebrated: this is the sensation you will have listening to these esoteric compositions, composed with extremely simple means and electronic manipulations. The result is nonetheless guaranteed and will manage to transport you truly to another dimension.

The album is divided into 2 parts and contains 4 tracks: the first is a long, infinite, and monotonous loop in which we can also hear bell tolls and unsettling percussion and noises. The piece was composed and inspired by the already mentioned "Magick" by Aleister Crowley and the work "The Kabbalistic Magic" by S.L. MacGregor Mathers. The second part is decidedly more interesting and varied. The first section is worthy of a horror movie soundtrack and is always inspired by the reading of Crowley, described in the booklet as "the recording of a real involvement," while the following, inspired by the reading of a text by Paul Huson, has a truly mystical atmosphere that will take you to a dark dimension in search of a hidden reality. The last section is a dark and obscure esoteric ritual where formulas are recited that describe the tasks of the adept and is taken from the "Liber Cheth" by Aleister Crowley.

In this first incarnation, Ain Soph were Foraenovis and Atrocity. Surely, to fully appreciate this type of music, it is undoubtedly important to also have some interest in "esoteric" themes, but it is not strictly necessary: if you have an aesthetic taste for the esoteric avant-garde of the early Current93 and certain dark-industrial, you will find just what you need.