Kold9.com - Music for your soul

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 Oystein 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.

In 2006 a retrospective compilation titled "Emblem (Selected Pieces)" was released, and a fourth full-length album is scheduled to be released in June '08.

Oystein Ramfjord's project, Amethystium, creates ethereal, mysterious aural impressions on his debut release, Odonata. Although this album officially came out on August 14, 2001, it had already achieved significant popularity and airplay at his site on www.mp3.com, where it has been extremely well-received in both the new age and electronica genres. (Go to http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/92/amethystium.html to hear samples of his work.) As the offerings from this talented Norwegian composer tend to be melodious and relaxing, and have a pleasant variety of timbres and cadences which maintain listeners' interest, their attraction is quite understandable. "Opaque" could be music for submariners, with its echoing sonar tones. "Enchantment" has a Middle Eastern influence, while "Avalon" offers delicate crystalline chimes. "Arcane Voices" includes Gregorian chanting interwoven with percussion. Ethnic influences can also be heard in the Sanskrit vocalizations on "Opaque" and the Buddhist chanting of the opening to "Lhasa." Yet, all these diverse influences are melded together into a harmonious whole that rings delightfully to the ear. In all, this is an elegant album, and its ambient soundscapes will draw many casual listeners into becoming Amethystium fans. Definitely recommended.