Kvelldsanger--Ulver

[Don Corleone]

It's like when Hank Williams Jr. made a metal album, all metal fans were like 'that is shit' but country fans were like HELL YEAH THIS ROCKS I DON'T LIKE METAL NORMALLY BUT THIS IS AWESOME. Obviously Ulver is not as shitty as Hank Williams Jr, but it's the same basic idea - a band from one genre dabbles in another, and fans of their original genre think it's cool but people who are actually into the genre identify it as dabbling and are unimpressed. I know people that like electronica, and none of them were remotely impressed by perdition city. And I've never seen a positive review of Perdition City by anyone that wasn't either already into Ulver or a metal fan that was told to check it out.

hank williams has a metal album? holy crap hahaha

but yeah, you are right wankerness..."perdition city" is among my fave records but i must admit i wouldnt call it "phenomenal" in the electronica genre.

 

[NFU]

but perdition city isnt an "electronic" record...in the sense that say Aphex Twin, Bogdan Razsynski, Squarepusher, Upland or Panacea are "electronic" groups. Ulver was inspired by many of those at the time, but also drew tons of influence from bands like Coil, Massive Attack, Portishead, down to vintage and modern jazz, and everything else which inspired them. At NO point did Ulver say "ok, were an electronic band"...for as you can tell, perdition city was unlike anything they did before, as well as unlike any studio album which followed. they continue to change and grow with every album anyway, so to say they didnt set the electronic music world on fire is about the same as saying they didnt set the metal world on fire either. many people dont know what to make of them with specific genre tags and generalizations. so in short, i could care less what some pretentious electronic music nut specifically has to say about Ulver, for Ulver transcended any pigeonholing or labeling they could get the first day they sat down to write that album.

 

[wankerness]

but perdition city isnt an "electronic" record...in the sense that say Aphex Twin, Bogdan Razsynski, Squarepusher, Upland or Panacea are "electronic" groups. Ulver was inspired by many of those at the time, but also drew tons of influence from bands like Coil, Massive Attack, Portishead, down to vintage and modern jazz, and everything else which inspired them. At NO point did Ulver say "ok, were an electronic band"...for as you can tell, perdition city was unlike anything they did before, as well as unlike any studio album which followed. they continue to change and grow with every album anyway, so to say they didnt set the electronic music world on fire is about the same as saying they didnt set the metal world on fire either. many people dont know what to make of them with specific genre tags and generalizations. so in short, i could care less what some pretentious electronic music nut specifically has to say about Ulver, for Ulver transcended any pigeonholing or labeling they could get the first day they sat down to write that album.

Fair enough. I really like the album, but I'm utterly clueless about other electronica and had been called a noob for liking it by others who do. I'll continue listening to it.

 

[Necromantic-Hiko]

no. they dislike black metal now. but Garm often speaks semi fondly of kvelldsanger, even though he does see its "amateurish nature and approach" he says. or something to that affect. afterall they redid one track on the melancholy EP, remember?

The track they redid is probably my least favorite off of the album (the original version i mean). Minus the vocal harmonies (which were fantastic, but then, its Garm) it didnt really catch me...


I really don't know what to think of the 'remix'. Musically i prefer it to the original, but it essentially got rid of my favourite part



As for the whole Ulver not being accepted by electronic music fans. It all depends i guess. I've listened to electronic music for quite a bit longer than metal (and far longer than ive been listening to ulver) and i find, with the exception of a few tracks here and there, almost all of their new (like nfu said, perdition city isnt really electronica persay [i wouldnt really consider much, if any, of what they do to be 'pure' electronica anyways]) stuff really catches me.


In fact, i've met more metal fans who dont like their new stuff than electronica fans.


this partially makes me want to revive the electronica thread, because ive been needing to pick up some more.

 

[Talking Meat]

I know people that like electronica, and none of them were remotely impressed by perdition city.

I noticed this too......I like the album a lot, but one time I came across a review that trashed it as a campy and cheesy take on the genre. I was surprised, kept looking, and found a couple more that said the same thing. It does use the stereotypical rainy night sax sound a lot, which probably turns a lot of people off right off the top.

 

[Kenneth R.]

Fair enough. I really like the album, but I'm utterly clueless about other electronica and had been called a noob for liking it by others who do. I'll continue listening to it.

It's not the best electronic record. It simply isn't. I'm sure most people who love the album would agree. However, it is an an amazing album, and for a band to go 180 like Ulver did and nail it time after time, that deserves recognition in my opinion.

 

[BloodSword]

i tend to agree. when i first heard the album (1999?) i loved it straight away obviously, but i figured due to the minimalist approach it had, and obviously due to its creation by a "black metal band" it would eventually lose its luster, or i would find something similar but superior somewhere down the road.

i can now say honestly...that i havent. and i dont think i ever will. it is a piece of music to be appreciated and maybe even studied in the future for a much larger audience than i feel the album will ever get exposure to. but im also somewhat okay with that. Ulver to me, is probably the most important band of the last 10 or so years. And if nothing else...at least the most diverse, relevant and talented band to ever come out of the metal genre. they have never been anything less than ahead of their time. and they continue to stick with that tradition and i hope to hear more from them for many years to come. end.

I don't normally agree with all of nfu's comments, but it can't be stated better than the above quote by him. I can understand some people not liking Ulver, IMO, they deserve the utmost respect for being brilliant musicians. Their musical creations are diverse and intelligient. I, for one, feel blessed to be able to listen to a band that will not stay in one place musically for long. Their evolvement is a gift!!

 

[Mr. Josey Wales]

I know people that like electronica, and none of them were remotely impressed by perdition city.

I noticed this too......I like the album a lot, but one time I came across a review that trashed it as a campy and cheesy take on the genre. I was surprised, kept looking, and found a couple more that said the same thing. It does use the stereotypical rainy night sax sound a lot, which probably turns a lot of people off right off the top.

stereotypical rainy night sax sound...lol...whatever it is, it owns

 

[Braighs]

Garm is just a wannabe Kenny G.

 

[Pessimism]

Garm is just a wannabe Kenny G.

Ouch.

 

[AshDLS]

I know people that like electronica, and none of them were remotely impressed by perdition city. And I've never seen a positive review of Perdition City by anyone that wasn't either already into Ulver or a metal fan that was told to check it out.

I haven't really "introduced" Ulver to any of my friends who listen to electronica but not metal, but I'd like to think Ulver have some kind of credibility in the genre given that they've been asked to do quite a few soundtracks, and that artists like Merzbow have been willing to work with them too.

 

[Scourge of Malice]

Someone reccomend me a "real" electronica album that I would like if I love Perdition City. I'm pretty clueless to the genre besides a few obvious artists.

 

[Indrid Cold]

Sounds like I need to pick up some more Ulver. I've only got Blood Inside currently

 

[all_sins_undone]

yes you definately need more ulver

 

[CAIRATH]

Someone reccomend me a "real" electronica album that I would like if I love Perdition City. I'm pretty clueless to the genre besides a few obvious artists.

Obvious choice? The Future Sound of London - Dead Cities.

 

[Scourge of Malice]

Thanks I'll check it out

 

[hibernal_dream]

The problem with Ulver is that at its core it is pop music disguised as whatever the band members are listening to at the time.. whether black metal, folk, electronic. Someone tell this band that instruments and styles DO NOT OF THEMSELVES make songs. They'll need to put something more there if they want me to stay awake during their next album.

 

[i aint play this]

^Sorry buddy, but honestly...you are gonna get really flamed for this, nothing personal iirc

 

[hibernal_dream]

^^ Too bad the flamers are most likely going to be people I already have on "ignore"

 

[FRUGiHOYi]

I just got Blood Inside. It is okay at best.