Album
Type : Full Length
Date
Released : 3/2/2014
Label
: Southern Lord
TERRESTRIALS,
album track listing
1).
Let There Be Light
2).
Western Horn
3).
Eternal Return
Review
:
Having
been on a proper O))) trip for the last few months I was really happy
when I managed to nab this as a review assignment. I have heard
various bits of Ulver over the years too, so I was interested to see
how this collab would play out. Carrying on in the vein of a more
modern Sunn O))) this is an ambient work of art, varied and serene
and pretty inspiring.
Rare
moment of honesty: I have struggled to sum up in words how I
accurately feel about this album. It could be accused of not going
really anywhere, but you have to listen to it multiple times before
it starts to sink in. There is a lot bubbling away beneath the
surface. Best way to pick up on most things related to 'Terrestrials'
is to become a sponge while it unfurls in the background. I'm still
noticing things as I write this now.
'Let
There Be Light' is positively fragile. It is so delicate in
composition that you could be forgiven for cranking up the volume
full blast to just perceive that there is actually a song happening
in the earliest stages of its running time. Only when the faintest of
horns breathes into life does it start to come together in a more
recognisable manner. This is by no means a criticism; I love the
detailed nature of the thing; like a video of a self assembling
puzzle played at half speed. The picture becomes more and more
visible in stages, like the first time you open your eyes from a
period of sleep. It takes a while to work out what is happening. I
came to the realisation that this song does not play, it is born. It
grows in front of you, it lives, it loves and then it fades. The
added elements of sparse drum rolls and cymbal crashes going on
behind the horns builds, and then it ceases to be. Such a rewarding
listen.
'Western
Horn' and 'Eternal Return' both seem darker in comparison,
and as a consequence probably more directly rooted in the field of
drone. At least that's how it comes across to me. There is more
discordance in these tracks, more rumble at VERY interspersed
moments, but they could by no means be classed as 'heavy'. Both are
seriously intriguing prospects, the latter track of the two is almost
(dare I say it)... musical. I was listening to it with
Markwell (Fellow reviewer) the other day and in a moment of genius he
compared it to a soundtrack of one of those Nordic Noir TV shows that
BBC4 seem to have popularised within the public. And he was right, it
absolutely could relate a dark corner of a bar in Norway while a
murder investigation is underway. It sounds like the loss of
innocence, and the struggle to reason as to why it was taken away.
Haunting string instruments, keys and a variety of metallic
percussive sounds (I think there is some kind of Xylophone or gong in
there or something) all work together to create this atmosphere that
is positively tangible, rich and full.
I
will always be a fan of the huge riff, but at times I can crave more
than that. This will no doubt be a go-to album for me for many years
to come when I desire something more involving or complex, beautiful
as it is. Sometimes a dark beauty, but a beauty nonetheless. In terms
of expression it is a whisper, but in terms of lasting effect
'Terrestrials' is difficult to shake loose.
Words
by : Matt Fitton
You
can buy it here
For
more information :
