DRONE ACTIVITY

Another great album of ambient mood adventures--four epic length ones--once again enlisting the participation of multi-instrumental journeyman and all-around prog all-star, Daniel O'Sullivan (GUAPO, GRUMBLING FUR, ÆTHENOR, MOTHLITE, MIASMA & THE CAROUSEL OF HEADLESS HORSES, CHROME HOOF, CERBERUS CHOAL). (I guess after ten years of work with Kristoffer Rygg & Co. I should be finally accepting as fact that he is a real and permanent part of Ulver.) Upon repeated listens, I find two of the songs draw me in and keep me there while two lose me. That fine line between droning background music and exciting, engaging foreground music is one that Ulver has always had trouble negotiating with me--except in concert format: I've found everything the band does in concert to be mesmerizing and thoroughly engaging. (But, then, the video and light shows accompanying their stage performances--not to mention their enlisted participation of choir and/or orchestral support--definitely add a different dimension to their music--one that is perhaps under-represented in the studio album versions. I guess the point is: see them live or buy their DVDs, that's where you'll experience the real magic of Ulver music!)

1. "True North" (16:11) (23/30) 2. "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea" (21:48) (41/45) 3. "Blood, Fire, Woods, Diamonds" (16:43) (28/35) 4. "Exodus" (15:50) (27/30)

Total Time 70:32

Four stars; a solid contribution to the Prog World lexicon.

I still think this is a studio album.

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