‘Among Lunar Glaciers’ is an experimental ambient drone work, conceived as an imaginary soundtrack to an exploration of glaciers on an icy moon and the varied environments within the glacier’s depths. In making the album, Spectrical challenged himself by using only acoustic guitar, violin, and occasional analogue noise as the sole sound sources. The original recordings were transformed with various computer-based processes into otherworldly yet intimate soundscapes. A reel-to-reel tape machine was used and manipulated by hand to add vintage textures and imperfections, and a Eurorack system was used for additional sound design. The resulting aural environments invite the listener to daydream about crystalline caverns, subglacial oceans and iridescent atmospheres in a world far from our own.
Credits
Music and layout by Timothy Allen
Artwork by Elise Wilson
© 2025 Timothy Allen and Perceptual Tapes
Reviews
Perceptual Tapes, the Hobart-based independent label known for cultivating meditative and exploratory sonic art, delivers a striking pairing with two new releases: Hyperliquid by Sons of Melancholia and Among Lunar Glaciers by Spectrical. Though distinct in atmosphere, both albums craft immersive, slow-burning sonic experiences that blur the lines between inner consciousness and outer cosmos.
…
Spectrical, the alias of Timothy Allen—the mastermind behind Perceptual Tapes itself—offers a fascinating counterpoint with Among Lunar Glaciers. Conceptualized as an imaginary soundtrack for a journey across a glacial moon, the album explores the alien beauty of ice, isolation, and imagined extraterrestrial terrain. Allen uses only acoustic guitar, violin, and occasional analog noise, which are then transformed via reel-to-reel tape machines, computer processing, and Eurorack modular systems into intimate yet otherworldly soundscapes. The result is a delicate collision of the organic and the synthetic: icy tones melt into soft tape warble, evoking crystalline caves, subglacial oceans, and glimmering frozen atmospheres. It’s music made for dreaming—equal parts exploratory and nostalgic.
Together, these two works showcase the range and ambition of Perceptual Tapes. Hyperliquid journeys inward, guided by memory, solitude, and stillness; Among Lunar Glaciers voyages outward, imagining alien topographies in shimmering, distorted detail. Yet both share a devotion to process, texture, and the slow revelation of emotional space. With these releases, the label continues to build a distinct identity: one that values thoughtful composition, tactile sound design, and deep listening as both an artistic and meditative practice.
Don Haugen