Reviews

Overall Rating: A
Composition: A-
Sounds: B+
Production Quality: B+
Concept: A+
Packaging: A
First off, this is presented with extremely classy packaging using a white tape reel box to house the 7” and cassette, but also including some other goodies like 2 pins, 2 inserts, a patch, and a special extra tape. The whole affair looks perfect with red paper and black printing it has a kind of cryptic thing going on, especially with the artwork featured on the inside, an old-school map of Finland, Cloama's home, and the pins one featuring what looks to be a bottle of booze, and the other Jesus Christ. What this adds to the concepts presented here are a bit baffling but I enjoy the questions that they arise in me and so it adds a depth that I find quite appealing. One of the most profound things here is the text contained on the insert, I won't transcribe all of it, but I really enjoy the passages: “In the state of unbelief – the symptoms of divine revelations – are divided – let them be warned – the spy who came in from the cold – to learn new language – drink vodka stolichnaya like a veteran not to spit in the mug - double identity – red minds – wear read clothes – the man who came in from the cold – a man who lived in lies for so long – forget to come back from the cold - blue in the face.” This is the stuff legends are made of.
With roughly 4 songs clocking in at about 5 minutes each this release passes only too quickly for my liking, but that just means every second is savored. Because I feel that the production of the tracks here are a little lacking. This is probably the biggest issue I have with the whole thing, it sounds to be mainly in the sound sources themselves, there's a lot of treble noise but luckily it's not that bad because it doesn't deter the bass frequencies from being heavy as hell, however the result of this is that it seems that much of the mid-range is attenuated which takes out a little of the punch.
That aside, I'm still loving these tracks. Cloama opens things up with the title track which is one of the two tracks that are a little more up-front harsh noise. Both the tracks on the 7” begin with some kind of vocal sample, the first on “In The State of Unbelief Part 1” is quite mangled and perhaps in Finnish so I can't tell what's going on with it. The treble and bass elements seem to be split in both the 7” tracks, with the bass starting and stopping to almost form some kind of rhythm on In The State of Unbelief Part 1.
Side B contains “The Spy Who Came From the Cold Part 1” which kicks off with a cryptic vocal sample in English detailing some kind of vague conspiracy. Once again starting with the noisy distorted feedback shuffling in the treble soon a pushing bass surge appears and is joined by scathing vocal screams like only Cloama can deliver. This material is probably the most raw thing I've heard from Cloama in a while but he does it just as well as his more polished sounds.
The second part of the story is revealed on the additional cassette that only comes with the limited box. “In The State of Unbelief Part 2” on Side C is a pulsating swarm of power electronics bliss with sloppy vocals, screamed quickly, frantically, no effects but distortion. The pulsating synth is accompanied by squealing feedback layered on top, nothing new here and very much reminding me of American power electronics, but using a classic formula simply can't fail when Cloama does it, and this is pulled off flawlessly.
Finally continuing faithfully the sounds and themes covered on the 7” is “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold Part 2” with a heavily distorted pulsating synth throb, lying in the beautiful gray area somewhere in between power electronics and death industrial. This is where I like to spend my time. Still extremely raw and overblown with pushing mid-range alternating drones being the most prominent element here.
Strangely enough I find the bonus tape to contain the more enjoyable material so I would suggest if you're going to get the release, get a copy of the box set before it's all gone. With all the inserts, pins, patch, and heavy packaging it's well worth the cost and shipping. Cloama continues to be one of my top favorite dark electronic projects of all time, and this is an easy testament to his consistency and eclecticism. Excellent fucking release.
Taken from Blood Ties

Cloama grows album after album and this recent boxset released by Cipher Productions shows us the Scandinavian project's maturity. The box is luxurious: old-style graphics, some pins, a patch and rich power-electronics sound, well balanced among loops, vocal samples and distortions. The 7" settles down on warm sounds, dominated by slow, high, almost doom tones. The tape (shown as C and D side) starts with a series of rumbling throbbing loops, feedback outbursts and filtered vocals on the background. The final track, which also closes the boxset, is furious and powerful, the modulatjon frequencies are extremely biting and the volumes reach a considerable level of wickedness. Limited edition of 130 copies, the tape is available only with the first 50.
Taken from Exoteric #4

Of the different sides of Cloama, this release concentrates on the violent power electronics and death industrial. he title track is a perfectly arranged instrumental with ear for detail and noisy synth sounds. Simply stunning. "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" on the other side is more vicious and screeching. It's not as detailed or perfectly composed, but it has totally intense vocals full of (drunken?) fury that underlines the lyrics that take a look at neglected sides of Cold War espionage. One of the most in your face power electronics tracks recently.
This is also available as just a 7", but I'm such a hip cat, purchased the deluxe edition that comes with a bonus tape. It has "part II" for both tracks, and neither one of them loses in comparison to the vinyl tracks. "Unbelief" has a throbbing synth background with nasty screeh and more of those deliciously hateful vocals. Total fcking violence. "Spy" on the other side is instrumental and concentrates mostly on deathly rumbles that close the circle well.
Great job by Cloama once again. The deluxe edtion comes in a box with two pins and a cool patch. Fucking essential release. Hail Finnish industrial underground!
Taken from Hard & Obscure #3