Pulsar1081 - L’inizio della fine (Going In Blind w/ Mr. Zero)
Artist: Pulsar1081
Title: L’inizio della fine
Style: Experimental/Ambient
Label: FYC Records & Distro
Release Date: May 18th, 2026
Country: Greece
Bandcamp:
I’m always keen to take a listen to anything FYC Records releases. Regardless of genre, I know one thing before I hear a note: It will be honest, pure artistic expression and, therefore, worth every second I spend with it. That’s just what FYC does.
Though most notably home to the black metal genius that is Dødsferd, the label is no stranger to experimental music. The main examples outside of Dødsferd’s own work are ambient releases by Sarvok and G.N.L.S., the dungeon synth of Anglachel, and the experimental pop of Vinca Difformis.
Dødsferd mastermind and label owner, Father Wrath, writes of Pulsar1081…
“In these difficult times, where meaningless art prevails and its transformation into a game of ruthless labels and the bad perception of their followers, in an era where everyone is interested in their self-promotion and not in creation, there are artists who take the art of creation very seriously and aim to delve into the abandoned areas of the human mind and give them life again.
A band whose members played a significant role in shaping the underground diy scene in Greece and only [care about] the journey of creation and awakening consciousness.”
Sounds good to me! I’m all in!
First Impression - L’inizio della fine:
Track One: “Dyp Samtale” opens with a science fiction vibe. The sound of swirling space. Listening with headphones on is disorienting because the sounds swell from ear to ear. Technology mixed with wind and thunder. Is the spaceship landing or taking off? Or is this just the aura around the planet?
Track Two: “Darkness” continues with some of the same high-pitched ambiance, but now there are more organic elements floating around the soundscape. The chanting of monks and electrified sea creatures. There is some type of worship happening here. Something lurking under the surface, slowly bubbling to the top. 6 minutes in, there’s an explosion. It’s brief, but impactful. It silences the surroundings until a low scream erupts into the ether.
Track Three: “Inferno” brings us right alongside whatever beast has escaped from the Darkness. It glides through the air with an unsettling hum, surrounded by buzzing insects. The vibrations raise the temperature. Windchimes, church bells, panicked farm animals. Demonic growls and ritualistic changing. Oh, there’s a storm coming!
Track Four: “Aglaf” is an interesting word. I can’t find a translation for it. There is a Greek goddess called Aglaia who represents grace and beauty. I somehow doubt there’s a direct connection, although this track (the longest on the album, at just over 14 minutes) does include a less menacing backdrop. The voices are breathing rather than growling. Meditating. There’s a healing element to this track, with droning keyboards and sporadic reverbed singing.
At the seven-minute mark, the music takes us higher up. It doesn’t necessarily change; it evolves naturally into a more comfortable space. There’s a beautiful blues-based guitar solo beneath all the electronic elements. It doesn’t sound like David Gilmour as much as it serves the same purpose as a well-placed Gilmour solo. There’s an overall sense of belonging, like the first half of the record was an introduction to this moment.
Track Five: “Maerd.” Read that title backward, and you get “dream,” which is precisely the headspace this song puts you in. It’s the closest thing to traditional ambient music until… at 2:28, there’s a single male glossolaliac voice, seemingly praying over the soundscape. It’s joined by another, only slightly harmonized, and they come together to sing a single line: “the sky is burning, the sky is burning so loud.” Wow! What a great moment!
Track Six: “0” is the original final track. It doesn’t quite fit with the rest, as it’s got a distinct trip-hop vibe. If L’inizio della fine was a movie, I could see “0” functioning as the soundtrack over the end credits.
Track Seven: “Dead Star” takes the final track slot for this version of the record. It’s a bonus track symbolizing the life of one half of Pulsar1081, Vasilis (Eterno), who tragically passed away.
Group member, Memento says, “The second symbolism is between his death and at the same time the birth of one of the 2 Pulsars that make up this particular project. Let’s not forget that Pulsars are created from the death of other stars.”
It’s another space-aged electronic track, full of blips, bloops, and ethereal keyboards. It’s a good representation of the album as a whole and serves as a nice loop back into another listen.
The Verdict:
A great album to put on for relaxation. There are moments of real beauty and surprise peppered in and out of nearly every track. The music is clearly made with deep intention and extreme care. A pleasure to spend time with.
- Mr. Zero