A surprising and uncompromising project with intricate arrangements, nuance, and grandeur.
A serious work of audio art, passion, and patience
Ars Dada, also known as Erlend Bilsbak, concludes his ten-track exploration into uncharted instrumental and experimental territory. In contrast to Concrete Collage, which typically draws tectonic electronics from a broad spectrum of artists, Between Poetry and Catastrophe veers slightly off the edges, assembling a veritable beast of sound on their latest gift to the world.
Here, the subconscious is prodded by lost soundtrack moments, ephemeral field recordings, and actual sounds and voices. These bizarre sonic abstracts described as an “exploration of the human condition at its most extreme,” are carved by a variety of instruments, such as cellos, strings, violins, violas, and the soft tapping of piano keys. The multi-talented Norwegian musician worked on these otherworldly soundscapes for 15 years in collaboration with the chamber orchestra of the Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra. A serious work of audio art, passion, and patience.
The outcome is engaging. From evaporating and surreal works like “Of Night And Light,” “Black Dragon Rise,” and “End Of September (Where Hope Goes to Die),” to more abrasive pieces like “Citadel,” “Tjernet,” and “Du Må Ikke Sove,” the album is loaded with dark musical tints and deep breakcore layers. In the end, this is a surprising and uncompromising project with intricate arrangements, nuance, and grandeur.
Between Poetry and Catastrophe is available on Concrete Collage. [Bandcamp]
