I got to know them during 2007 and have acquired their whole discography (apart from their DVD Supersilent 7) and have grown slowly accustomed to it and then even liking it more and more, understanding/grasping more the music (or whatever you want to call it). Right now, due to discovering some music that is even more (much more) challenging than theirs, I can easily relate to their music, and find it enjoyable, but the question remains - do you enjoy this? is this music to your ears?

 

 

Some links:

Unofficial website - http://www.supersilence.net/ - http://www.supersilence.net/

Interview with the band (very interesting, they talk about how they record and compose) - http://www.white-heat.com/?page=articles&id=17 - http://www.white-heat.com/?page=articles&id=17

Label (Rune Grammofon) - http://www.runegrammofon.com/artists/supersilent/ - http://www.runegrammofon.com/artists/supersilent/

Review of Supersilent 8 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/dpjw/ - http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/dpjw/

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersilent - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersilent

 

 

From their unofficial website:

 

http://www.supersilence.net/members/helge/index.htm - helge sten (electronics, guitars, keyboards)

http://www.supersilence.net/members/staale/index.htm - ståle storløkken (keyboards, synth, electronics)

http://www.supersilence.net/members/jarle/index.htm - jarle vespestad (drums)

http://www.supersilence.net/members/arve/index.htm - arve henriksen (trumpet, voice, drums, electronics)

 

Chronology:

autumn 1989	trio "veslefrekk" was formed by ståle, jarle and arve in trondheim the norwegian name means 'small spot'
1993-1994	veslefrekk recorded their first album "veslefrekk" in trondheim, december 1993, which was released in 1994 from the norwegian label nor-cd
1993-1994	helge joined in the norwegian (rock) group motorpsycho from trondheim, recorded album "demon box" and eps, and left the group
10.10.1994	helge aka deathprod released his first solo album "treetop drive part 1-3, towboat" from metal art disco / voices of wonder
1996	helge aka deathprod released his second solo album "imaginary songs from tristan da cunha" from norwegian label dbut
31.05.1997	as "veslefrekk with deathprod", four members of supersilent played together for the first time at the bergen jazz festival "nattjazz", norway, without any prior rehearsal
aug-oct 1997	recording sessions for their first album
	the name, "supersilent", derives from a logo on the side of a truck spotted in oslo.
01.12.1997	their first triple album "1-3" was released from the norwegian label rune grammofon this was the first album also for the label
30.09.1998	helge (deathprod) released a sprit album "nordheim translformed" with biosphere (geir jenssen) from rune grammofon. an album of collections of 'transformed' arne nordheim composition
23.11.1998	released the second album "4" a studio recording
from 01.2000	rune grammofon catalogs including supersilent 4 are distributed worldwide by ecm records
14.05.2001	released the third album "5" selected live recording 1999 -2000
15.10.2001	arve released his first solo album "sakuteiki" from rune grammofon which was recorded and produced by helge
10.2002	"1-3" and "4" were reissued with new 'standard' packaging
20.01.2003	released the fourth album "6" a studio recording
20.08.2003	released the vinyl version of "6" 2 lp, limited to 1000 copies
14.02.2004	"6" was awarded alarmprisen for jazz categoly, the alternative norwegian grammy
23.02.2004	helge released his third album "morals and dogma" on rune grammofon a box set "deathprod" including his first two solo album, the new album and the collection of rare tracks was released at the same time
01.05.2004	arve released his second album "chiaroscuro" on rune grammofon
09.2004	veslefrekk, trio of ståle, jarle and arve, released the second (and probably the last) album "valse mysterioso" on nor-cd
28.08.2005	released japanese edition of "6" on bomba records, with gatefold paper sleeve
26.09.2005	released live dvd "7", filmed and recorded in oslo on 16.08.04
23.10.2005	released japanese edition of "4" and "5" on bomba records, with gatehold paper sleeve
21.12.2005	released japanese edition (ntsc version) of "7" on bomba records, with gatehold paper sleeve
24.04.2006	helge released 10" vinyl titled "6-track" on rune grammofon five deathprod remixes of other artists and one track from "money will ruin everything" compilation
26.02.2007	arve released his third album "strjon" on rune grammofon joined by helge and ståle and produced by helge
17.09.2007	released album "8" a studio recording

 

 

 

There are also other projects in which the members participate in (different than Supersilent material but worth looking into).

 

 

http://flickr.com/photos/36392395@N00/sets/72157602320665731/show/">

 

 

 

Any takers?

 

 

 

Jarle Vespestad is an amazing drummer, BTW. He played with another Norwegian band named Farmer's Market. They play a sort of hyperactive Ethnic Folk/Jazz/RIO music that reminds me of Alamaailman Vasarat mixed with Tribal Tech (I suggested them in the ZART) His performance with them is beyond awesome!

 

 

Back to Supersilent, that link to the interview I posted above ( http://www.white-heat.com/?page=articles&id=17 - http://www.white-heat.com/?page=articles&id=17 ) has interesting details about the band's history and the way they make their records.

Just read this one question from the interview:

How does a Supersilent songs comes about? 

Jarle Vespestad: It's the same now as it has always been: we never rehearse, we improvise. We started out as a trio, without Helge. Then we rehearsed a lot, checking out different ways of communication. When Helge came in, the band stabilised, Supersilent became clearer in a way. We used to practise a lot, but we stopped doing that ten years ago.

 

Been wanting to order their first three boxset for a bit now.

 

Member: http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/members/profile.asp?PeopleID=567 - wu javascript:quote%28wu%29 - Quote • http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/subscribe.asp?topicID=82480&fromThread=yes&ForumID=1&posttime=1%2F7%2F2008+5%3A43%3A55+AM&page=1 - Unbookmark • http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/moderate.asp?postid=1390661 - Moderate • | 1/7/2008 12:10 AM

Arve Henrikson came out with a solo album last year, Strjon, that you might like, on Rune Grammofon. Otherwise I don't know - I've only heard 6 and it kind of reminded me of a less abstract version of some electroacoustic improv type stuff. Lately I've been obsessing over a new eai disc, V 1.1 by a group called Fessenden. I'm not too educated on this stuff yet but I'm learning, and Supersilent strikes me as hovering close to this world, without actually being in it. ------------- Ground and Sky Prog Rock Reviews http://www.progreviews.com/ - http://www.progreviews.com/

Member: http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/members/profile.asp?PeopleID=6737 - Mohadev)* javascript:quote%28Mohadev%29*%29 - Quote • http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/subscribe.asp?topicID=82480&fromThread=yes&ForumID=1&posttime=1%2F7%2F2008+5%3A43%3A55+AM&page=1 - Unbookmark • http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/moderate.asp?postid=1390700 - Moderate • | 1/7/2008 3:46 AM

I have 6 and 7, theyre both fantastic. I'd like to check out the earlier stuff (I've heard 1-3 are more intense), maybe I'll get around to that some day... wu said: Supersilent strikes me as hovering close to this world, without actually being in it. Supersilent don't sound like "EAI" to me, but my experience with both is limited. I like the Supersilent I've heard because they straddle the line between 'jamming' (ie spontaneous composition) and improvising (spontaneous... playing?). In other words, they keep things interesting, but you don't have to get a divorce.

Member: http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/members/profile.asp?PeopleID=6582 - Corbie javascript:quote%28Corbie%29 - Quote • http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/subscribe.asp?topicID=82480&fromThread=yes&ForumID=1&posttime=1%2F7%2F2008+5%3A43%3A55+AM&page=1 - Unbookmark • http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/moderate.asp?postid=1390721 - Moderate • | 1/7/2008 5:56 AM

There have been o yhandful of Supersilent related threads on PE over the last year or so. A few of us on here are big fans of the group. There is a sensibility at work that - to me - sounds like a distillation of the sort of thing the '73 - '74 King Crimson were doing with the idea of free improv in rock music. They are, for me, a stupendous band and one of the few hopes that exist for genuine progression.

Member: http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/members/profile.asp?PeopleID=4741 - steblik javascript:quote%28steblik%29 - Quote • http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/subscribe.asp?topicID=82480&fromThread=yes&ForumID=1&posttime=1%2F7%2F2008+5%3A43%3A55+AM&page=1 - Unbookmark • http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/moderate.asp?postid=1390734 - Moderate • | 1/7/2008 6:46 AM

You might want to try Humcrush, which is Storloken and Scandinavian edgy-music fixture Thomas Stronen (also of Food) on percussion. ------------- Nobody knows how famous I am

Member: http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/members/profile.asp?PeopleID=5618 - m javascript:quote%28m%29 - Quote • http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/subscribe.asp?topicID=82480&fromThread=yes&ForumID=1&posttime=1%2F7%2F2008+5%3A43%3A55+AM&page=1 - Unbookmark • http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/moderate.asp?postid=1390748 - Moderate • | 1/7/2008 7:43 AM

For the most part...I think the whole Supersilent discography is very good to great. I am partial to the first release which was a triple cd set (Supersilent 1-3). It's very raw, and edgy in parts which, I think they have since glossed over. I saw them live a few years ago and it was fantastic, they revisted some of this loud raw energy that was displayed on the first 3 and, the dvd (Supersilent 7) is a definite must buy. Corbie said: sounds like a distillation of the sort of thing the '73 - '74 King Crimson were doing with the idea of free improv in rock music. I hear this too. They seem to have similar notions of free improv...starting very slow and quiet and building into a huge cacophony of sound on many of their songs. This really is demonstrated well on their dvd. And not only does it sound great, but looks great too---all very artfully done in black and white. best Michael

 

Member: http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/members/profile.asp?PeopleID=5191 - battema javascript:quote%28battema%29 - Quote • http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/subscribe.asp?topicID=82480&fromThread=yes&ForumID=1&posttime=1%2F7%2F2008+8%3A10%3A58+AM&page=1 - Unbookmark • http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/moderate.asp?postid=1390820 - Moderate • | 1/7/2008 9:41 AM

I own Supersilent 6 & 8 and enjoy both (I like 8 slightly more). Also own Strjon, which is good. Our bassist has the DVD and we watched it one night -- good stuff. Mainly though (and actually my intro point into their music) I am a big fan of Deathprod's stuff. The black box collecting all his solo output thus far (not including Nordheim Transformed) is truly excellent IMHO.

 

 

 

 

Member: http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/members/profile.asp?PeopleID=817 - Poisoned Youth javascript:quote%28Poisoned%20Youth%29 - Quote • http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/subscribe.asp?topicID=82480&fromThread=yes&ForumID=1&posttime=1%2F7%2F2008+8%3A10%3A58+AM&page=1 - Unbookmark • http://www.progressiveears.com/forums/moderate.asp?postid=1390839 - Moderate • | 1/7/2008 10:10 AM

avestin said: Any suggestion for other bands in the same ball park? Electric full improvisation is not easy to come across in my particular explorations. In most jazz contexts, you have stuff with 'electronic manipulation' like Evan Parker's Electroacoustic ensemble and Spring Heel Jack's later work. There's also a lot of EAI music which gets 'way out' there from the most extreme music to the emerging minimalist movement (imagine listening to electronic manipulation in the form of blips and feedback a la Keith Rowe for 60 minutes). In rock or other contexts, rarely do you get full on improv as much as "jamming". A few recs off the top of my head. Bone Structure - G.E. Stinson/Gregg Bendian's improv group on Cryptogramophone. It's electric nature and violin certainly can remind one of early 70s Crimson improvs at times. L Stinkbug & Splinter Group - Two more G.E. Stinson related bands, both heavy on the guitar. Francois Houle - Au Coeur du Litige: Canadian jazz clarinet player's electro-acoustic album. First disc is mostly all solo with manipulation. 2nd disc has various musicians and some spoken word. Species Being - Orgone Therapy: A 'rock improv' group with a few albums. They apparently played with Nels Cline at some point. Isildurs Bane & Metamorfosi Trio - MIND Vol. 3: This one slipped by most people as it got away from IB's typical sound. Porcupine Tree - Metanoia: Believe it or not. Though I wouldn't put this in the same league as Supersilent. Djam Karet - Still No Commercial Potential - ditto.

 

 

 

 

 

6 is a nice chill album, still havent given 8 a proper listen

 

1-3  -  skull-f**king noise-jazz blizzards!!!

 

4  -  this is death-jazz!!! ominous, rumbling power.......

 

5  -  their most ambient work but full of intense foreboding

 

6  -  their most soundtrack-ish and beautifully glacial work, ECM fans take note!!

 

7  -  the mother of all live dvds, beautifully filimed in black n' white, amazing music that builds from canvasses of silence into epic catastrophic rock-outs!!!

 

8  -  a relatively sparse and minimal effort but an effective lumbering-swaying beast, with 2 doom/metalnoise workouts thrown in fer good measure!!! 

Electric full improvisation is not easy to come across in my particular explorations. In most jazz contexts, you have stuff with 'electronic manipulation' like Evan Parker's Electroacoustic ensemble and Spring Heel Jack's later work. There's also a lot of EAI music which gets 'way out' there from the most extreme music to the emerging minimalist movement (imagine listening to electronic manipulation in the form of blips and feedback a la Keith Rowe for 60 minutes). In rock or other contexts, rarely do you get full on improv as much as "jamming".

A few recs off the top of my head.

Bone Structure - G.E. Stinson/Gregg Bendian's improv group on Cryptogramophone. It's electric nature and violin certainly can remind one of early 70s Crimson improvs at times.

L Stinkbug & Splinter Group - Two more G.E. Stinson related bands, both heavy on the guitar.

Francois Houle - Au Coeur du Litige: Canadian jazz clarinet player's electro-acoustic album. First disc is mostly all solo with manipulation. 2nd disc has various musicians and some spoken word.

Species Being - Orgone Therapy: A 'rock improv' group with a few albums. They apparently played with Nels Cline at some point.

Isildurs Bane & Metamorfosi Trio - MIND Vol. 3: This one slipped by most people as it got away from IB's typical sound.

Porcupine Tree - Metanoia: Believe it or not. Though I wouldn't put this in the same league as Supersilent.

Djam Karet - Still No Commercial Potential - ditto.

 

 

Supersilent's roots are in a way still largely in jazz and here are some records that mix jazzz n' electronics which fans would like esp if you are into 5 and 6:

 

Marcus Stockhausen feat. Terje Rypdal - Karta

David Torn - Prezens

Jon Hassell - Powerspot

Lonely Universe - s/t (feat. Torn & Mick Karn)

Weather Report - Live In Montreux DVD

Weather Report - I Sing The Body Electric

 

on the more rock end here are a few more:

 

King Crimson - Vroom mini-album / Thrakattak

The Projeckt series of cds by KC members

Ultralyd - Conditions For A Piece of Music

 

 

 

 

Recently discovered this as well (been on my hard drive for some time unlistened to) and loving it as well as their other album. They're on our voting chart.

 

 

 

BTW Assaf, have you given those Radian albums I sent you a while back a spin? I know they are different types of bands, but at times I find the timbre somewhat similar, despite the void of jazzy tendancies. The drummer from Radian, produced an album with another Austrian musican (guitarist) called 'Too Beautiful to Burn' which is absolutely stunning. So if you liked them I will have to send you some samples of this other album. A very rhythmic album with an almost post-rock like influence, with out the rock.  

 

Hey Adam,

 

Haven't listened to it yet (I've got a ton of music on my hard drive still to listen to).

But I'll listen to it definitely and I'm interested in this album you mention here as well.

 

 

 

Their 3 albums (Thugny-Trugny, Pholcus, Couchy Pack) are top-notch esp the first 2 which bring to mnd the best bits of Oval and Tortoise's Djed.........

 

I have Thugny-Trugny which I still have yet to listen to. I'll definitely do so now, thanks!

 

 

 

 

So, like I said, I'm currently going album by album, "studying" their music and enjoying it.

 

superprog wrote: to reprise my descriptions of their albums:   1-3  -  skull-f**king noise-jazz blizzards!!!    Absolutely. Intense noise/improv section.   4  -  this is death-jazz!!! ominous, rumbling power.......  I liked the tribal feeling here, great power   5  -  their most ambient work but full of intense foreboding Need more listens, but that was definitely more tamed than previous works.   6  -  their most soundtrack-ish and beautifully glacial work, ECM fans take note!! Finally got to this one; I agree; this paints a scenario in my mind as I listened to it, and it had some elegance to it, something which previous albums did not emphasize.   7  -  the mother of all live dvds, beautifully filimed in black n' white, amazing music that builds from canvasses of silence into epic catastrophic rock-outs!!! I'm not into DVD's and line shows that much, so I'll skip that one.   8  -  a relatively sparse and minimal effort but an effective lumbering-swaying beast, with 2 doom/metalnoise workouts thrown in fer good measure!!! I have the album as well, but I'll listen to it once I've absorbed 5 and 6 better.

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