ULVER / Messe I.X-VI.X (2013)

The small print under Ulver's name reads: With Tromsø Chamber Orchestra. That's important to note because it was Norway's Tromsø Kulturhus who commissioned it, in cooperation with the Arctic Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra. It's not just experimental Metal with occasional strings, it's a more organic blend of film-style orchestral work and dark ambient introspection that needs a quiet environment to be fully appreciated. Garm adds vocals to only two of the six tracks, but the others aren't lessened by the absence.

Songs of Note: Glamour box (ostinati); Son of Man

4 dark nights of the soul out of 5

ULVER / Themes from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1998)

Themes… presents the entire text of William Blake's masterpiece set to music. It took me many listens to fully appreciate what Ulver were attempting to do. The experimental fusion of Avant-garde, Metal, Industrial, Progressive ambience and Spoken Word mirrors the infusion of conflicting and progressive thinking that Blake offered in his writing.
The album features guest vocal contributions from Ihsahn (Emperor / Peccatum), Samoth (Emperor / Zyklon) and Fenriz (Darkthrone).

Songs of Note: It's a double concept album, 19 tracks. Too many to choose from.

4 religious ponderings out of 5

ULVER / Teachings in Silence (2002)

Ulver continued to erode their musical barriers with two Minimalist/Ambient E.P.s called Silence Teaches You How to Sing (2001) and Silencing the Singing (2001) that were collected together as this the following year due to their exploring similar themes. It's a dark and strangely compelling work that teases some beautiful haunting melodies beneath the pops, crackles and ambient glitch. The sounds have a very definite sense of timing and purpose; they're not random occurrences.
If you're a fan of ambient, you'll know that sifting through the sheer volume of crap available can sometimes unearth a gem; Teachings in Silence sparkles.

Songs of Note: Darling Didn't We Kill You; Speak Dead Speaker

4 ghostly whisperings out of 5