The two latest releases by Biosphere showcase its two main facets; as one of the most reputed figures in ambient music, the solo project of norwegian musician Geir Jenssen has intercalated between minimalistic exercises in atmosphere (such as the iconic “Substrata”) and works informed by house and techno but retaining the the project’s fundamental sensibilities.
On the aptly titled “Angel’s Flight”, the band takes on the theme of fading impressions and imperfect reconstructions that characterize the evocation of long lost experiences; appropriately, the music feels like a trace, a poorly remembered memory of something that already departed. Each piece sticks to a main theme that is either looped or complemented by further developments; the title track, for example, bases its drive on the dialogue between its rhythmic backbone and synth melody, whereas on “As Weird as the Elfin Lights” the more sinister side rears its head as a distorting drone that periodically threatens to submerge the track.
Stagnation is avoided by drawing from a repertoire that goes from the eerier side of the Berlin School to melodies not too far removed from a contemporary composer like Gorecki and classical samples (from Beethoven’s String Quartet nº 14) filtered through sonic grain to give them the spectral quality that pervades the album, producing a sensation akin to listening to an old, malfunctioning phonograph in an abandoned salon.
“Shortwave Memories” reveals Biosphere’s more extroverted face, making use of the innovations of newer styles of synthesizer music that became popular after the earlier ambient explorations. Ethereal synth soundscapes remain a crucial element, but here they find themselves challenged by various forms of electronic percussion. The interaction between lush and lively synth layers propels the songs as they unfold through new variations.
The affair is still closer to Autechre’s experiments than a straight rendition of any modern electronic subgenre. Compared to the glacial ambiances that the band is most known for (such as those on display on “Angel’s Flight”), the aura here is much more playful, without leaving behind the trademark nordic coldness and contemplative disposition. A sense of vitalistic joy is extracted from the collision between these pulses and the resulting sparks, making this a rich listening experience and a much more engrossing option than the nostalgic retreads that fans are likely to encounter.
