‘negru pvlse’, it does include ‘negru’ and ‘pvlse’ (but the smartest ones amongst you saw that…). But I mean, it’s ‘negru’ as in Negru Voda, and ‘pvlse’ as in Moljebka Pvlse. And hey, this seems to be a project of Mathias Josefson (Moljebka Pvlse) and Peter Nyström (Negru Voda) indeed…
Actually, as Negru Pvlse, Mathias and Peter (the latter also being involved with e.g. mighty Megaptera, the unique Kerrstillingskozletskynyströmpetrus collaboration, or Obscene Noise Korporation by the way) joined forces before, though it has been quite some time. In 2002 they recorded an album, called Madeira, under this moniker (released, for your information, via the great Old Europa Café – unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to listen to that one yet), and now, after about fifteen years, they came back with a sophomore recording, Fervere. The title is Latin for ‘to boil’ or ‘to seethe’, by the way, but the back-side of the album (digipack) gives some additional information about the word ‘ferment’ and its ‘use’ within the (late-medieval) alchemic sciences.
Fervere sees the light as ninth release on another excellent Drone / Industrial / Ambient label, Ur Muzik (in May and June this year I did upload reviews for Horologium and Artefactum too; enter the label’s name or the one from the project in the ‘search’-tab). Fervere’s artwork is the opposite of ‘boiling’, for snowy landscapes are the main visual theme on the album. It comes in an edition of 400 copies, and actually it includes older material (and live bonus stuff), so this is not exactly a totally ‘new’ recording, though totally remastered for this opportunity specifically.
As from the opening composition on, you’ll notice the impenetrable darkness and intolerable emptiness created by this duo. Minimalistic floating sounds, distant layers of noise, Fervere paints an icy, lifeless landscape filled with life’s remains and post-nuclear nothingness. Long-stretched soundwaves are droning and suffocating, joining forces with apocalyptic sounds, ominous noise collages and asphyxiating scapes. Minimalism and distortion joined forces in order to become a mostly uncomfortable experience, yet still there is no room for distraction or boredom. Every single minute something happens, being in sound, structure or atmosphere. Monotonous drones are permanently injected by scarifying samples, haunting field recordings, industrial rhythms, ritualistic sequences and electronic pulses, in order to create a mystic and mysterious ambient adventure. Not once Negru Pvlse seem to reach for a climax, but on purpose they build a permanent tension, a long-stretched journey through dimensions untrodden.
A lot happens, though in a mostly subtle way. Each time when listening to this album, new elements seem to appear, others have faded away in order to reappear, suddenly, within another construction or constellation. That might seem weird, but for sure it’s the strength of this cohesive compilation. I mention cohesive, for the whole sounds like one major majestic piece, despite the different recording phases (some pieces are even taken from live experiences done in 2004 somewhere in Finland, if I’m not mistaken).
Once again Ur Muzik satisfy my eardrums and my mind. Projects recommended, label recommended!