Supersilent - Supersilent 7

hearsay · March-28th-2006, 06:18 PM

Supersilent 7 is a DVD of a full concert of theirs uncut, with no extras, menu or anything. Although their music is already highly empathic, I don't think it has been refined much since their last few recordings, most likely because I don't think they play together much. However it is fun to watch them perform and interact, and the concert is beautifully shot in stark black and white by Kim Hiorthoy.

Their main strength as a group is building, they start out with usually one person playing, usually something simple, ambient or melodic, slowly the others enter and continually change the texture and context until the music builds to a tremendous, noisy, frenetic peak. I still found myself suprised each time that they seemed to have gotten there without me noticing that they had or how they had. Their weakness may be that they drag out these peaks 10-20 minutes too long until they become relentless busyness and lose all context. Occasionally in these periods the lighting and directing join in with annoying flashes and jump cuts. 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 all follow this outline with 7.3 being the most effective. It starts out with Stale Storlokken playing some pretty, airy chords and develops into something like the improv from 6.1, with Storlokken using the exact same synth patch and 4 note motif. Again it builds to a busy crescendo and after a few minutes when I start growing tired of it they begin adding layers of thick synth drone to the busyness, creating an incredibly powerful sonic wall.

Unfortunately, Storlokken seems to use the same sci-fi analog synth patches on all their albums, with little variation, sometimes they work and sometimes they don't really. Jarle Vespestad is a great drummer, but doesn't seem to alter his approach much either. Arve Henriksen, and Helge Sten (from what I can tell) are incredibly interesting and creative in their approaches. Henriksen sings delicate falsetto and plays flute-like trumpet, but also creates interesting delay effected texture and sometimes sings through his trumpet and/or effects.

Besides my minor qualms, 7 is a solid Supersilent album for anyone who is a fan, especially if you've never been able to see them live. I've heard this may be their last recording.

Sergio Zamora · March-28th-2006, 08:41 PM

Sounds interesting. It would be nice if it came with a cd, though.

I only have 6, which I like a lot, but I hear it's very different from earlier releases. I assume this is one is closer to 6, right?

Nim Chimpsky · March-29th-2006, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sergio Zamora

Sounds interesting. It would be nice if it came with a cd, though.

I only have 6, which I like a lot, but I hear it's very different from earlier releases. I assume this is one is closer to 6, right?

This one is in a similar vein to 6. I wouldn't say 6 is very different from their previous work. Each release has been a step forward, with a gradual move towards using more repetitive patterns, more emphasis on their quieter side (they were named after a juggernaut and Supersilent 1-3 sounds like it at times) and using Arve Henricksen's voice and trumpet as a melodic counterbalance to the more aggressive synths and electronics.

hearsay · March-29th-2006, 10:25 AM

The CD's previolus to 6 are have more of the "relentless busyness" vein that I was talking about, but I'd agree that they seemed to have progressed with each one. This one probably epitomizes their progression, there are some real high moments here, I'd definitely recommend it. I really enjoyed the visual aspect as well, it adds a mysterious and visceral element to the experience of their music.

picsou · March-29th-2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nim Chimpsky

This one is in a similar vein to 6. I wouldn't say 6 is very different from their previous work. Each release has been a step forward, with a gradual move towards using more repetitive patterns, more emphasis on their quieter side (they were named after a juggernaut and Supersilent 1-3 sounds like it at times) and using Arve Henricksen's voice and trumpet as a melodic counterbalance to the more aggressive synths and electronics.

You're a fan of Sidsel? She had a live streamed concert yesterday evening.

Re Supersilent. I am still not in possession of "7". I have not put 1-3 in the player for ages, don't remember liking anything of it. But I will have another go. But I do like 5 and 6. And I think Henriksen is a real talent.