Lethe – When Dreams Become Nightmares

Releasedate: 17-01-2014; Label: Debemur Morti Productions
By: Basak Günel

Lethe is the experimental project by Anna Murphy (Eluveitie) and Tor-Helge Skei (Manes). Formed at the end of 2012, this unusual project came to life by the artistic experiments of both musicians. The only rule of this unique collaboration is the fact that there are no rules and their latest album “When Dreams Become Nightmares” is a clear proof of this.

I think that the first impression would be how odd this album is. This is not the usual album that one would listen; the album does not follow a certain pattern, there is no genre but an overlapping of different genres ranging from black metal riffs to trip-hop riffs, there is no story but little stories. There is a bit of everything; e-guitars, wonderful male and female vocals, monologues that reminded me of Pink Floyd songs and those beats. It’s hard not to be surprised at how much elements there are in the background of the songs; these elements are sometimes the guitar riffs and sometimes the melancholic female and male vocals and this is what makes this record so unpredictable and also experimental. Furthermore, the diversity of the female vocals sung by Eluveitie’s Anna Murphy cannot be ignored; her contribution to this album is incredible.

What I liked the most was the overall atmosphere of the album; just like the title states, this album is a clear answer to what happens when ‘dreams turn to nightmares’. There is this overall and dark atmosphere that can only be explained with the void and the psychedelic state of mind, which can be found in the combination of slow beats and melodies combined with vocals. If you want a taste of the record, I can recommend “Haunted” and “Oblivion” as my favorites.
“When Dreams Turn To Nightmares” is definitely a great start for Lethe. This is a record you will get used to in a while so I recommend everyone to listen to the album a few times. It’s bizarre and it’s what makes this record so successful and professional.

Line-up:
Anna Murphy – Music, Lyrics, Computer, Vocals, Bass, Piano
Tor-Helge Skei – Music, Lyrics, Computer, Synth, Guitar, Bass
Eivind Fjøseide – Guitars, Music

Tracklist: 01. In Motion 02. Haunted 03. Come Look At The Darkness With Me 04. Ad Librum 05. Love Pass Filter 06. Oblivion 07. You 08. Transparent 09. No Reason 10. When Dreams Become Nightmares

Links:
Lethe Facebook