ambient / experimental
You know what talent is? Talent is the ability to turn something unfamiliar into something satisfying. Of course, talent comes in many different forms. Some people have the talent to become a great athlete, others have the talent to speak to large crowds. Some people have the talent to pick up any instrument and create magic, even if they are not familiar with that particular piece of equipment. Swedish composer Erik Levander is one of those people. He inherited a vintage clarinet and decided to get acquainted with the instrument. He also decided to introduce it to modern day electronics. The result is a dream of an album.
You might know Erik Levander from his earlier work with the Efterklang/Rumraket family. Solo, he lives for experimentation and border exploration. The clarinet is the central instrument but that is barely audible. Instead, it hides in gloomy soundscapes and rough ambient drones, which brings acts like Rapoon, O Yuki Conjugate and Zoviet France to mind. That would definitely throw this album into my ever expanding lists of favorite ambient releases, and it does too.
'Ögonblickens Marginaler' gently lured me in before the breathtaking epos 'Åter Annalkande' takes over. These tracks also contain that narrative approach I love so much. They're telling stories without words, I don't care how cliché that might sound but it is true. I'm a writer, constantly imagining stories and music like this is perfectly suited as guide. They're telling me a story that my brain needs to find words for, and with this album, those words come quite easy.
So, for me, this is a perfect album, one that will surely accompany me while I write my new book. For ambient fans, this is an essential addition to your collection. It's gentle, dreamy but adventurous. If you are into any of the aforementioned and also appreciate acts like IIVII, Stratosphere and Biosphere, I urge you to check this out. Now if you'll excuses me, I got a new chapter to write...
Serge
You might know Erik Levander from his earlier work with the Efterklang/Rumraket family. Solo, he lives for experimentation and border exploration. The clarinet is the central instrument but that is barely audible. Instead, it hides in gloomy soundscapes and rough ambient drones, which brings acts like Rapoon, O Yuki Conjugate and Zoviet France to mind. That would definitely throw this album into my ever expanding lists of favorite ambient releases, and it does too.
'Ögonblickens Marginaler' gently lured me in before the breathtaking epos 'Åter Annalkande' takes over. These tracks also contain that narrative approach I love so much. They're telling stories without words, I don't care how cliché that might sound but it is true. I'm a writer, constantly imagining stories and music like this is perfectly suited as guide. They're telling me a story that my brain needs to find words for, and with this album, those words come quite easy.
So, for me, this is a perfect album, one that will surely accompany me while I write my new book. For ambient fans, this is an essential addition to your collection. It's gentle, dreamy but adventurous. If you are into any of the aforementioned and also appreciate acts like IIVII, Stratosphere and Biosphere, I urge you to check this out. Now if you'll excuses me, I got a new chapter to write...
Serge
