Biography
"Dark and tragic" might be fitting adjectives for Ulver's 14-year
career, but "low-key" is definitely a more recent development. For even
though it might be hard to believe it when you listen to the soft-spoken
new album, Ulver were once a seminal black metal band. They even have the
name (Ulver translates as "Wolves") and a trilogy of folklore-inspired
metal to prove it.
But even in a scene that sent shockwaves around the world, Ulver were
outsiders. While other black metallers were "slaves to the one with horns",
Ulver were inspired by Thomas Kingo, a 17th century composer of psalms. As the band matured, their influences became even more eclectic. Techno
auteurs Autechre rubbed shoulders with visionary mystic William Blake.
Ulver have released acoustic folk albums and instrumental techno records,
raw metal and industrial soundscapes, and they have composed music for
films.
I'd like to say that they are equally comfortable with whatever medium
they choose, but that would be a lie. Ulver never seem comfortable—they seem restless, longing for some far-off horizon or hidden world
only they can see. This makes every new release from Ulver interesting
because you not only have to ask "is it good?" (with Ulver, that's a
redundant question) but "what kind of music is it?"
So, what kind of music is this? The boys already told you it's "dark
and tragic", but while being weighed down with the world, they have
managed to produce their most accessible album to date. This might sound
like a paradox, but Ulver thrive on such paradoxes. Their fears have been
given a shapely form indeed, capable, perhaps, of bringing a little
comfort to some.
Soothing electronics and natural percussion provide the basis for
Garm's warm vocals, singing songs of loss and disillusion. While the
lyrics provide little hope, the music carries a note of quiet faith. It
sees Ulver abandon many of their grand concepts, to focus on music and
human emotion. Contributions by world-renowned thereminist Pamelia Kurstin
help make SHADOWS OF THE SUN a piece of rare beauty.
You want comparisons? SHADOWS OF THE SUN sees Ulver borrow some
pigments from David Sylvian's palette, using it to transport their own
visions onto the canvas. Incidentally, Austrian audio abstracter
Christian Fennesz, an associate of Sylvian, also help make this album
what it is.
Other comparions could be made. The band are avowed fans of Coil.
Nick Cave, maybe. But such comparisons only cheapen, because Ulver
really don't sound like anybody you already know. They are the perfect
strangers.
I'd call them "lone wolves", but I've promised the band to lay off
the wolf jokes.
DIDRIK SØDERLIND
Garm was vocalist in ARCTURUS & on BORKNAGAR's first 2 classic albums. Along
with this ULVER has been nominated for various Norwegian Grammy Awards &
scored 3 film soundtracks. This album will appeal to fans of COIL, NICK CAVE,
DAVID SYLVIAN, KING CRIMSON, UNIVERS ZERO & GUAPO.
What the critics are saying...
"...passionately beautiful...totally different from what both ULVER have
done before & from what has been done in the musical world in general."
- METAL INVADER
"...The songs pulse, ebb, flow & linger, but they also pound & pummel their
way out of the speakers." - METAL OBSERVER
"ULVER is easily one of the most progressive bands of all time...creative
& inventive (not to mention unpredictable." - AVERSIONONLINE.COM
Current line-up:
Kristoffer G. Rygg
Jørn H. Sværen
Tore Ylwizaker
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