Och, das klingt doch schonmal gut. Die Elektrogeschichten vor Shadow of the Sun fande ich ja immer ziemlich unausgegoren, da giebt es einfach Leute die das besser können, aber das scheint ganz knorke zu werden
Kscope are very proud to announce that Ulver are the latest band to join their roster. Early pioneers of Norwegian black metal, the band have continually evolved throughout their career and now stand as living legends of the dark music industry.
The last two years have also seen Ulver manifest into a live band. Following their first live performance in May 2009, at the Norwegian Festival of Literature, the band toured Europe in 2010 selling out prestigious venues such as the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Volksbühne in Berlin and Casa da Música in Porto, to great acclaim:
"Ulver's presentation is surreal and stark. A psychedelic excursion, an immersive experience, fuelled by haunting, progressive art. After such a night, you don't want to see another band for a few days. Because anything else would pale when put alongside Ulver." (Classic Rock Magazine)
2010 culminated in a packed performance in the main theatre of the Norwegian National Opera. Ulver were the first band outside the established Norwegian music scene to be invited to play at the opera house and a DVD of this landmark performance will be released on Kscope later this year.
Such an invitation is quite an accomplishment for a band that has always remained uncompromisingly independent, operating without marketing, advertising or any backing from a label (except their own imprint, Jester Records). Despite this stance the band are revered around the world, have sold in excess of half a million records, have well over 11,000,000 plays on Last FM and the interest does not seem to be fading; indeed the band are now preparing to add another bookmark to their chameleonic legacy.
A bigger label, management, touring – all this is new and unchartered territory for the band, and one in which they are not necessarily savoir-faire. During the last two years they have shifted from the safety zone of the studio towards a more traditional route, facing the music rather than hiding in the shadows. Everything can happen, and has. The new album, Wars Of The Roses, clearly reflects this.
With a long standing reputation for being unpredictable and unafraid of radical departures, the most subversive aspect this time is perhaps the band's increased accessibility; even touching on the polished sensibilities of pop and rock. The opening track "February MMX" is a striking example.
But naturally with Ulver comes ambivalence. Fringe figures appear: horror connoisseur Stephen Thrower of Coil and Cyclobe, experimental guitar-guru Stian Westerhus along with British free improvisation legends Steve Noble and Alex Ward. They all play important parts on the album, their instant instincts perfectly aligned with Ulver's composed compassion. The familiar baroque menagerie of piano, wood and wind sit alongside the machines and the ghosts within.
The album ends with "Stone Angels", a long and winding dreamland narrated by Daniel O'Sullivan (who became a core member of the group in 2009). The text is written by acclaimed American poet and translator Keith Waldrop, an acquaintance of Jørn H. Sværen, the author in the band. It is, quite frankly, beautiful.
Thematically, the same is at stake as always with Ulver: the human condition and a world in fall. But this time the landscape is viewed from a bird's eye perspective, exposing culture and tradition rather than the personal vulnerability expressed on previous albums. In the words of Julian Cope:
"Ulver are cataloguing the death of our culture two decades before anyone else has noticed its inevitable demise."
Wars Of The Roses was mixed by producer extraordinaire John Fryer (Depeche Mode, Cocteau Twins, Swans etc.), following a chance meeting outside Crystal Canyon studios during the latter stages of recording. Sounds like fate.
ULVER EUROPEAN TOUR 2011 PART I
March 22 UK, London, Koko March 26 France, Paris, Le Trabendo March 27 Netherlands, Rotterdam, Off_Corso March 28 Germany, Hamburg, Uebel & Gefährlich March 29 Germany, Bochum, Matrix March 30 Germany, Karlsruhe, Substage March 31 Switzerland, Basel, Z7 April 01 Germany, Munich, Backstage Halle April 02 Italy, Ravenna, Madonna dell'Albero April 03 Austria, Vienna, Szene April 05 Poland, Poznan, Eskulap April 06 Germany, Berlin, K17 April 07 Slovakia, Bratislava, Majestic April 08 Germany, Dresden, Beatpol April 09 Belgium, Antwerp, Biebob April 10 Germany, Aschaffenburg, Colos-Saal April 16 Norway, Oslo, Rockefeller April 21 Finland, Helsinki, Nosturi
na dann hör mal hin ich finde das ma da kleine Paralellen dazu findet, es wäre ja schlimm wenn Ulver Anathema perfide covern würden, das tun sie natürlich nicht. man kann es schlecht beschreiben ana+ demo + prog .... ?!?
Eben die ersten drei Songs durchgehört. Der gestreamte Song ist tatsächlich ein bisschen ala neue Anathema, Song 2 ist deutlich ambienter und 3 ebenfalls, wie ne glattgebügelte, eingängige Version (NICHT negativ gemeint) der Sun-Scheibe. Bin auf den Rest gespannt.
Und durch: Tolles Album mit noch mehr Potential auf der Gefallensskala. Der Anathema-Vergleich erschöpft sich vollkommen ab dem 2. Song. So nach dem ersten Mal sag ich, die letzten beiden Scheiben etwas glatter und bühnenkompatibler gehalten, aber unwahrscheinlich facettenreich.
DOOMEDSOULS
Thema drucken
12.02.2011 15:58
Iiiieeeekssss. Das ist ja gar kein Doom! Gnagnagna flenn heulz brrrzzzzzlllllfrz....
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