Neptune Towers was a
dark ambient side project
In popular music, a side project is a project undertaken by one or more people already known for their involvement in another band. It can also be an artist or a band temporarily switching to a different style.
Usually these projects emphasize a ...
formed in 1993 by
Fenriz
Gylve Fenris Nagell (born Leif Nagell; 28 November 1971), known professionally as Fenriz, is a Norwegian musician, part-time music journalist and online radio host (with the show "Radio Fenriz") of
Darkthrone
Darkthrone is a Norwegian extreme metal band from Kolbotn, Akershus. Formed in 1986 as a death metal band named Black Death, in 1991 Darkthrone embraced a black metal style influenced by Bathory and Celtic Frost and became one of the leadin ...
. He released two albums under this name, ''
Caravans to Empire Algol
''Caravans to Empire Algol'' is the debut studio album by the Norwegian dark ambient project Neptune Towers. It was released on December 12, 1994 by Moonfog Productions. Sole band member Fenriz considered this to be the first of the two chapters ...
'' (1994) and ''
Transmissions from Empire Algol
''Transmissions from Empire Algol'' is the second and final studio album by the Norwegian dark ambient project Neptune Towers, a similar-sounding follow-up to 1994's '' Caravans to Empire Algol'', expanding on the same concept. It was released i ...
'' (1995), both issued by
Moonfog Productions
Moonfog Productions is a Norwegian record label, founded by Satyricon frontman Satyr and Tormod Opedal. The label was established unofficially in 1992 and released its first record in 1994. The label specialized in black metal and other genres wh ...
. Fenriz began recording a third Neptune Towers album, ''Space Lab'', in 1994, but it was not finished. Both albums were reissued by
Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records is a British independent heavy metal record label. The label was founded by Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw (of the bands Instigators and Civilised Society) in Dewsbury, England in 1987, who was also a one-time drummer of Sore Throat ...
in 2012, with excerpts from ''Space Lab'' appended to ''Transmissions from Empire Algol''.
Musical style
Fenriz described Neptune Towers as "avant garde astral/alien synth", and credited
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk (, "power station") is a German band formed in Düsseldorf in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. Widely considered innovators and pioneers of electronic music, Kraftwerk were among the first successful acts to popularize the ...
,
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music band founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The group has seen many personnel changes over the years, with Froese having been the only constant member until his death in January 2015. The best-known lineup ...
and (former Tangerine Dream member)
Klaus Schulze
Klaus Schulze (4 August 1947 – 26 April 2022) was a German electronic music pioneer, composer and musician. He also used the alias Richard Wahnfried and was a member of the Krautrock bands Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra Tempel, and The Cosmic Jokers ...
as influences for the music.
Discography
Studio albums
*''
Caravans to Empire Algol
''Caravans to Empire Algol'' is the debut studio album by the Norwegian dark ambient project Neptune Towers. It was released on December 12, 1994 by Moonfog Productions. Sole band member Fenriz considered this to be the first of the two chapters ...
'' (1994,
Moonfog Productions
Moonfog Productions is a Norwegian record label, founded by Satyricon frontman Satyr and Tormod Opedal. The label was established unofficially in 1992 and released its first record in 1994. The label specialized in black metal and other genres wh ...
)
*''
Transmissions from Empire Algol
''Transmissions from Empire Algol'' is the second and final studio album by the Norwegian dark ambient project Neptune Towers, a similar-sounding follow-up to 1994's '' Caravans to Empire Algol'', expanding on the same concept. It was released i ...
'' (1995, Moonfog Productions)
See also
*
List of ambient music artists
This is a list of ambient music artists. This includes artists who have either been very important to the genre or have had a considerable amount of exposure (such as those who have been on a major label). This list does not include little-known ...
References
External links
Metal-Archives
{{Authority control
Dark ambient music groups
Norwegian musical groups