ULVER 1993-2003: 1ST DECADE IN THE MACHINES
Jester Records - 2003
By Rodrigo Escandon
Rarely has there been a band like Ulver that has transformed itself from its beginning to its present. That metamorphosis is celebrated with 1993-2003: 1st Decade in the Machines and rather than having a greatest hits collection (which would be too simple and safe for this band to do) as a retrospective of the bands first 10 years, we are treated with 14 remixes of classic Ulver songs from a wide array of different artists.
Now these remixes are not just a simple tweak here and there of the original material. Rather the artists have decided to totally reconstruct the original songs making them almost absolutely unrecognizable to the listener. Sure one may here a note, chord, theme of the original song but for the most part these remixes sound like totally new compositions and yes even songs from Ulvers first 3 albums get the royal electronic remix treatment. Ulver themselves tackle Nattens Madrigal from the Vargnatt demo and they called it Crack Bug that features an intermittent, glitchy ambient beginning that is soon overtaken by rhythmic beats and blasts of distorted white noise. V/Vm and Merzbow try their hands at material from Bergtatt and Nattens Madrigal and the result is a lot of headache inducing loud noise (electronic black metal?) that at least keeps the spirit of those albums intact. Wolf Rotorvator (taken from various parts from Bergtatt from Jazzkammer is a rotating, blender of sound that goes all over the place.
The rest of the remixes are a mixture of hyperactive drum machine sequences Lost in Moments Remix (Upland), the spooky and minimalist Lyckantropen Remix (The Third Eye Foundation, haunting German dialogue coupled with strings and electronic noise in Der Alte (Martin Horntveth and the video game sounding (think Atari 2600) bleeps and drum beats of Bogs Basil & Curry Powder Potatos Recipe (Bogdan Raczynski). But without a doubt the stand out track here is the slow and delicate epic I Love You, but I prefer Trondheim (parts 1-4) by A. Wiltzie vs. Stars of the Lid because of the samples of the Nattens Madrigal string remake as well as the inclusion of some of the best parts from Perdition City
The result of 1993-2003: 1st Decade in the Machines is a haunting and somber album that is difficult to grasp and understand but one that manages to keep you hypnotized and mesmerized by its wide array of sounds. This is a truly unique and disturbing album but one that fits right in with Ulvers catalogue.
Jester Records Website
Ulver Official Website
Jester Records - 2003
By Rodrigo Escandon
Rarely has there been a band like Ulver that has transformed itself from its beginning to its present. That metamorphosis is celebrated with 1993-2003: 1st Decade in the Machines and rather than having a greatest hits collection (which would be too simple and safe for this band to do) as a retrospective of the bands first 10 years, we are treated with 14 remixes of classic Ulver songs from a wide array of different artists.
Now these remixes are not just a simple tweak here and there of the original material. Rather the artists have decided to totally reconstruct the original songs making them almost absolutely unrecognizable to the listener. Sure one may here a note, chord, theme of the original song but for the most part these remixes sound like totally new compositions and yes even songs from Ulvers first 3 albums get the royal electronic remix treatment. Ulver themselves tackle Nattens Madrigal from the Vargnatt demo and they called it Crack Bug that features an intermittent, glitchy ambient beginning that is soon overtaken by rhythmic beats and blasts of distorted white noise. V/Vm and Merzbow try their hands at material from Bergtatt and Nattens Madrigal and the result is a lot of headache inducing loud noise (electronic black metal?) that at least keeps the spirit of those albums intact. Wolf Rotorvator (taken from various parts from Bergtatt from Jazzkammer is a rotating, blender of sound that goes all over the place.
The rest of the remixes are a mixture of hyperactive drum machine sequences Lost in Moments Remix (Upland), the spooky and minimalist Lyckantropen Remix (The Third Eye Foundation, haunting German dialogue coupled with strings and electronic noise in Der Alte (Martin Horntveth and the video game sounding (think Atari 2600) bleeps and drum beats of Bogs Basil & Curry Powder Potatos Recipe (Bogdan Raczynski). But without a doubt the stand out track here is the slow and delicate epic I Love You, but I prefer Trondheim (parts 1-4) by A. Wiltzie vs. Stars of the Lid because of the samples of the Nattens Madrigal string remake as well as the inclusion of some of the best parts from Perdition City
The result of 1993-2003: 1st Decade in the Machines is a haunting and somber album that is difficult to grasp and understand but one that manages to keep you hypnotized and mesmerized by its wide array of sounds. This is a truly unique and disturbing album but one that fits right in with Ulvers catalogue.
Jester Records Website
Ulver Official Website
