Ulver – ATGCLVLSSCAP

[schema type=”review” name=”Ulver – ATGCLVLSSCAP ” description=”Label: Jester Records/House of Mythology” author=”Basak Günel” pubdate=”2016-01-22″ ]

The Norwegian band Ulver has come a long way since 1993. The whole project started as a black metal band but over the years, the band’s sound has evolved into neofolk/ambient/experimental and avantgarde. In this aspect, Ulver is definitely unique. The band is back with “ATGCLVLSSCAP”.

There are some interesting aspects about this record. Firstly, if you listen to the record without reading any reviews, you won’t even notice that this album consists of the live recordings taken from 2014. There is some studio production for sure though. Secondly, you might wonder what the title is all about… Well, let me give you a hint.. Think about astrology and you will solve the mystery!

Back to the album… Well, I can definitely say that this one has been hard to review. I cannot somehow categorize the sound; the album is psychedelic, experimental, otherworldly and definitely spiritual. All in all, those who are familiar with the band’s sound know that they experiment a lot and break the limits of the definition of genres. But a certain ‘categorization’ would be that I sensed the domination of progressive and ambient elements a lot. It has a pattern in the sense that it doesn’t have a certain pattern. Somehow, all the songs are masterpieces within themselves but they ‘make sense’ only when you listen to the album from the beginning to the end. I see this as some sort of spiritual journey into one’s unconsciousness. You have to start from the beginning and finish the journey in order to be one and this is the case with this album.

There are some highlights in this record and also some twists. “Cromagnosis” is my favorite; it contains all the elements belonging to Ulver’s sound and delivers all those emotions – from tranquility to this bundle of energy and fire-. On the other hand “Om Hanumate Namah” touched me; it has this mystical Eastern vibe and it definitely speaks to my heart in a different way. “Ecclesiastes (A Vernal Catnap)” is probably the most emotional song in the record. I also had the feeling that the album got more emotional and ‘melancholic’ towards the end, which contrasts with how the record started.

“ATGCLVLSSCAP” is one of those albums that need to be listened and ‘digested’ from the beginning to the end. I can maybe write pages about this record but I will let the listener decide.. It’s definitely a masterpiece!

Tracklist: 01. England’s Hidden 02. Glammer Hammer 03. Moody Stix 04. Cromagnosis 05. The Spirits That Lend Strength Are Invisible 06. Om Hanumate Namah 07. Desert/Dawn 08. D-Day Drone 09. Gold Beach 10. Nowhere (Sweet Sixteen) 11. Ecclesiastes (A Vernal Catnap) 12. Solaris

Links:
Ulver Facebook