ABSORBED IN DREAMS AND YEARNING REVIEW BY SYLVAIN LUPARI, GUTS OF DARKNESS MAGAZINE JULY 2006
Straight from Denmark, here is a new comer in EM, Berlin School style. Well,n a way.
Absorbed in Dreams and Yearning is Scandinavian Bjorn Jeppesen second opus, and this one crosses the borders of Denmark.
According to the press guide, this cd is full of new sonorities. An innovative work that might bring a new electronic mode,
the Scandinavian School. A statement that hook the immediate fans attention. Let's see what it turns out to be.
The Battle that lasted Eternally starts with noises from an old gladiators fight and horses neighs.
An
opening track which inspires a harmonious rhythm on a fat nervous loopy
sequencing line, crossed by well structured sounds
effects. The synth is light and discreetly blows a suave melody which is twisted
by raising the octaves.
A beautiful harmonious opening which leaves his sonorous prints.
Where
the Gods are Watching is a short nervous title witch recall the analog moves of
Jean Michel Jarre on Magnetic Fields.
Another heavy sequence line that rock on a sharp synth with conflict harmonies.
A small kicker.
It's
when we are listening Through Clear and Frosty Nights that we catch the
Nattefrost syndrome. This is a long track
that sails on a low and faint sequential line with the with lots of analog
atmospheric effects. This title caps the genius
of
an intense heaviness which is dandled on chords from a bass minimalist loop
line. The synthesizer
lulls us with clear notes melodies, digging an unreal harmonic contrast. The
tempo is deviating and borrows various
harmonious
faces of which one seems curiously familiar when e have the impression to hear
the lines of famous
the hit Pop Corn, but played in an awkward way, as with back. The effect hangs
immediately.
Visions of a Pale Moon borrows the lugubrious feelings of Through Clear and Frosty Nights but with a more
released and clearer rhythm Always dawdling, the tempo varies its beats on its own chords.
Valhal
is the big title on Absorbed in Dreams and Yearning. A big heavy dark line
emerges
from a static intro. The rhythm is heavy and is dandled on a good percussion,
clashes of choked cymbals
and
a beautiful hooking harmonious synth line. Synthesizers are rich in mellotron
and embrace an atmospheric
texture which is stretched until a more ventilated line points. At that point
Bjorn Jeppesen recites an ode
which
finds echo on a celestial wind.
Descending from the Stars is another short kicker in a Jarre style. The kind of track we find to short.
Absorbed in Dreams and Yearning takes shape on a bass sequential nervous line, while the synth moves on a more
atmospheric
way. This strange symbiosis gives an obsessing rhythm, because we don't know
what leads what. The atmosphere is still bordering with the similar incantations
on the first works of electronic music.
A
strange title, wrapped well with quite particular sound dimensions.The Northern
Lights
closes this last opus on a very atmospheric mood. The line is travelling and
runs on harmonious chords,
which
form a soft melody between dreams and yearnings. In accordance with press guide
Absorbed in Dreams and Yearning
from Nattefrost is effectively a work with an unusual sonorous texture.
Don't panic, Berlin School is not in jeopardy. But it grows much richer. This is
a great cd, witch is, at the same time, dark
and
melodious, wrapped on a moving and minimalist atmospheric structure, near a more
progressive
Berlin School mood. All along this musical journey Nattefrost spread his
bewitching lignes which have this small indefinable
something
that hangs easily. We have the vague impression to be in an atmospheric drift
whereas
the sequences are animated and bubbling. Is this unique? I can't be sure.
The first energetic works of Steve Roach left me with this impression too, and it's quite particular.
I
liked it a lot, from start to end. And I am impatient to hear Nattefrost next
cd. Here is a new amply interesting
artist, who seems to have a good potential of creativity. A new kind of Berlin
School? A thing that doesn't happen every day.
5/6