Tuesday 27 August 2013

Ulver - Messe I.X-VI.X (CD Review)


01.As Syrians Pour In, Lebanon Grapples With Ghosts Of A Bloody Past
02.Shri Schneider
03.Glamour Box (Osbinati)
04.Son Of Man
05.Noche Oscura Del Alma
06.Mother Of Mercy

Kristoffer Garm Rygg (Programming/Vocals)
Jørn H. Sværen (Various)
Tore Ylwizaker (Keyboards/Programming)
Daniel O'Sullivan (Guitars/Keyboards/Vocals)
Tromso Chamber Orchestra
Artic Opera & Philharmonic Orchestra
Martin Romberg (Arrangements)


Ulver are a musical group from Norway formed in 1993. Since their first, folklore-influenced black metal release entitled 'Bergtatt – Et eeventyr i 5 capitler' in 1994, their musical style has been fluid and increasingly eclectic, blending genres such as rock, electronica, symphonic and chamber traditions, noise and experimental music into their oeuvre, but with a heavy reliance on electronic recording techniques.
Producing an epic 2 disc set in 1998 with 'Themes From William Blakes Marriage Of Heaven & Hell' which put them at odds with the Black Metal community but unleashed them onto a wider audience and a new fan base.



There is a danger with reviewing an album like this, having seen a few already they tend to over intellectualise like some university professor of high brow classical music, for fuck sake i really hate that, because whatever the style of music performed here we are still talking about "Rock & Roll" not writing a thesis on complexity of instrumentation!

So with that in mind (and me being me) here is my review :

Track one kicks off with a very low bass rumble with samples laid over, soon blends into some nice keyboard work and sombre classical music.

A more electronic feel for 'Shri Schneider' very reminiscent of early Tangerine Dream, this same vive continues into 'Glamour Box'.

'Son Of Man' has a great vocal delivery, again very downbeat and sombre, but such great harmony to such dark lyrics.

Darkend bass rumblings return for track five, a brooding horror soundtrack, very disturbing vocals and strange synth pulses.

Finally 'Mother Of Mercy' slightly less disturbing, but keeping that creepy ambient feel right to the very end.

Rating 10/10

For Fans Of : Coil, John Zorn, Tangerine Dream, Blut Aus Nord, Akira Yamaoka

FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ulver/31166220421?fref=ts


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