It’s very easy to listen to Per Henrik Svalastog’s music in the wrong place. That was my mistake when I thought I could try listening to it on public transport, and soon discovered I could hear virtually nothing. No, the best place for this is the home cinema, where the slowly moving textures make a lot more sense, at times pulsing like the parts of a machine, or being broken up by invisible guillotines. All of which makes sense when you read the press note, about the record being “about layers upon layers of local climate and history fighting to break through the surface”. This means it’s more like a weather system than a collection of melodic and harmonic ideas – so if you’re after something with a tune, it’s best avoided. An interesting listen, and innovative in its own way – but in another sense, an approach that leaves you cold.
2 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood