Album Review: Do What Thou Will Volume II by Various Artists
Released in 2017 under the UK-based label Sombre Soniks, Do What Thou Will Volume II is a masterful dive into the shadowy realms of Dark Ambient and Experimental music. Curated, conceptualized, and brought to life by P23 (who also handled the haunting artwork), this album showcases the sonic vision of Akoustik Timbre Frekuency. It’s not just an album—it’s an auditory labyrinth that invites listeners to wander through its eerie corridors.
The record opens with "Mélange," a track that immediately sets the tone. Its layered textures feel like stepping into a cold, abandoned cathedral where whispers echo endlessly. There’s something unsettling yet mesmerizing about how the drones build and dissolve, as if they’re alive, breathing alongside you. This piece sticks in your mind because it doesn’t just play—it consumes. By the time it fades out, you're already neck-deep in its world, unsure whether you want to leave.
Another standout track is "Kali’s Touching." If "Mélange" feels like wandering through shadows, this one grabs you by the throat. The industrial clangs and distorted tones evoke images of ancient rituals gone wrong. You can almost smell the incense burning and hear faint screams in the distance. What makes it unforgettable isn’t just its raw power but the way it messes with your sense of safety. It’s a reminder that sound can be as visceral as touch.
Tracks like "Shadow Into Bone" and "OuterSpace InBetween" further explore these themes, blending ethereal pads with dissonant elements that keep you guessing. Each composition feels like a fragment of a larger story, stitched together imperfectly on purpose. The album closes with "wizened," which brings everything full circle—a quiet, reflective end after the chaos. It's kinda like waking up from a dream you don’t fully understand but can’t shake off.
What strikes me most about Do What Thou Will Volume II is how unapologetically strange it is. There’s no attempt to soften the edges or make it accessible for mainstream ears. And honestly? That’s what makes it so damn good. Listening to this album feels less like entertainment and more like stumbling across someone’s secret diary—raw, personal, and deeply unsettling.
Here’s the kicker though: despite all the darkness, there’s beauty here too. Like finding a flower growing out of cracked concrete. Or maybe I’ve been listening to this thing for too long. Either way, hats off to P23 and Akoustik Timbre Frekuency for creating something that lingers long after the final note fades.
