DE SOM SEJREDE... REVIEW BY SOULBLINDER JUNE 2004
Ever since I
got my hands on the 3” preview disc to “De Som Sejrede…” I have been
looking forward to the full length release. What had made me so determined to
spend my money on this Danish project´s effort on NothRe is easily pointed out:
Rich, warm synths weave well structured, partly repetitive yet complex songs
with very catchy and recognisable melodies.
Now before you run off and bury yourself in the minimal droning earthquakes of
your favourite abstract ambient release, rest assured that even though
NATTEFROST´s sound does not reside on the extreme side of the ambient spectrum,
this disc it is well worth to dwell in your cd-player for a couple of weeks. The
music is mid-paced to – what at least I consider – fast and sounds very
smooth and well-composed. The different parts and elements of each track simply
fit so well together that about every songs feels like a little clockwork world,
or rather a short video clip. That leads me to the main feeling I got from this
release. Mainly due to the synth´s sound and the way the tracks are composed,
“De Som Sejrede…” comes across like a professional movie score, or perhaps
video game music.
While the music is of course strong enough to support itself, I somehow could
not completely get rid of the slight feeling to miss something, to always be a
step behind. The mostly rigid song structures force you to listen actively while
at the same time you are being led by the hand through the creator´s musical
vision. Everything has its place, nothing is left to chance. The texture of this
album feels coldly assembled instead of naturally grown.
The tracks are very tight, except “Vintersolhverv”, which has a more relaxed,
loose feeling.
Although all tracks are very strong, absolute stand-outs are “I Krig” with
its martial, pounding drums and the high, swirling leads, “Slaget Som Varede
Evigt” with its bass driven, almost danceable beat and addictive, ethereal
lead melody as well as the brooding, frigid and menacing “Nattefrost”.
To make it short: If you look for dynamic, well-structured ambient with
sufficient variation and a certain graceful neo-classical edge – look no
further.
I hope the
third paragraph does not come across too
negative. i really enjoy the album!