Ashera

Ashera's Cobalt 144 is an exceedingly gifted release. For those who aren't familiar with Ashera, it's the project of Australian ambient soundscape composer Antonio Wright, who has been masterly crafting dark ambient recordings in relative obscurity for some time. Cobalt 144 is a little different from Colour Glow, but both of them are expertly crafted. Cobalt 144 has more vocal elements than Colour Glow, with elegant treatments by Caroline Wilson and Adriana Korkasova. Cobalt 144 certainly has more, almost dissonant tension than Colour Glow; perhaps it's a more tense recording than Colour Glow, but at times it even moves beyond tense to scary. The prominent use of haunting female voices really adds a different character to the profoundly significant instrumental and production work of Antonio Wright. Those who enjoy dark vocals in a similar vein of early Chant work or perhaps the sound of more quiet Dead Can Dance pieces will certainly enjoy this work. Cobalt 144 is a significant contribution and a great place for any music enthusiast to start listening to Ashera. ~ Matt Borghi, All Music Guide