Author Topic: Ulver-appreciation thread  (Read 62078 times)

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Offline Zantera

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Ulver-appreciation thread
« on: March 13, 2010, 12:37:48 PM »
Searched around a bit on the forums, didn't find a thread for this.

First of all, amazing group which i accidentally stumbled a bit upon a month ago or something.
Being a fan of Agalloch, obviously i've heard about Ulver many times in different places, i remember reading about the song "I am the wooden doors", and "the intro is very Ulver-ish".
Obviously i thought it sounded interesting, but i didn't check it out until i saw Portrucci mentioning them on these forums, knowing that he has awesome taste in music.
So obviously, i just HAD to get my hands on Perdition City.
My expectations/thoughts about this album beforehand was far from what i would experience, i expected Ulver to be a black metal-ish band like Agalloch, but with electronic influences rather than the doom/folk that Agalloch has.
Listened to Perdition City the first time, and it was like "BOOM!".
I seriously listened to it 2-3 times before drawing the conclusion "hey, this isn't what i expected.. this is something else, something amazing".
So apparently the first Ulver releases are black metal-ish, but i'm so glad they didn't sound like what i had expected.
It was better, and even though i'm only familiar with that album and "Shadows of the sun", i still consider this band amongst my favorites.

Perdition City is at least in my top5 favorite-albums ever, and it just takes me to so many places in my head, places i connect with some of the songs.
For instance, when listening to the ending-part of "Dead City Centres" (the part with the talking voice) i really got a flashback to the Max Payne-games, and more specifically the fun-park place where Mona Sax has her hideout.
Overall, an album that is a true masterpiece.

Appreciate this amazing band here, also.. any recommendations on what album i should focus on next? :)

Offline FiberglassMoon

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2010, 12:40:37 PM »
Perdition City is amazing

Offline Portrucci

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2010, 05:29:55 PM »
Glad that you like it! Ulver are just an amazing band. One of the truly "progressive" bands in the literal sense. From black metal, to folk acoustic, to avant-garde, to electronica, trip hop, ambient, soundtrack etc. And they can pull it all off. Perdition City remains in my top 5 albums from all time and I too get the dark video game vibe of Perfect Dark, Max Payne etc. Love it  ;D

I like all their albums really though they are all quite different. My 2nd favourite of theirs is probably Svidd Neger. A soundtrack they did for a Norwegian movie. Just superb music, a mix between cool jazz, electronica and modern classical would be the best description I could give. Another choice is Blood Inside. It's not as mellow and minimalist as Shadows so it's probably easier to get into,  a great listening experience  :) You also couldn't go wrong with their debut Bergtatt - Et Eeventyr I 5 Capitler. One of the clearest influences on Agalloch's style, it's black metal with folk acoustic parts and clean vocals mixed in. Really ahead of its time for 1994.  :tup

« Last Edit: January 14, 2011, 04:50:00 PM by Portrucci »
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Offline SPNKr

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2010, 06:01:41 PM »
I saw an interview last night with Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg. Cool dude just like Ulver are cool too :hat
Can you believe he was 16 when Ulver made Bergtatt? :o

I only had time to listen to their black metal 'trilogy' yesterday. I actually Audiosurfed Nattens Madrigal which made me enjoy it more.

Their switch to electronic was a good decision actually :hat

Offline Volk9

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2010, 10:34:01 PM »
DOWNLOAD MY FREE NEW ALBUM!

(For fans of breakbeat, trip hop, acid jazz, etc)

https://abstractinthesky.com/

<br />Yeah, once you graduate high school, you need to listen to Death Metal like an adult.<br />

Offline ariich

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2010, 03:56:31 AM »
Ulver are amazing, one of only a handful of bands who I would say have more than one 5-star album (Perdition City and Blood Inside). But most of their albums are excellent (I really like their more laid back ones like A Quick Fix of Melancholy and Shadows of the Sun) and they just change so much from album to album that you never know what to expect.

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Offline hefdaddy42

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2010, 04:24:54 AM »
I haven't listened to all of their stuff, but the variety of music that they have produced (at the level with which they have produced it) is astonishing.
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Offline Zantera

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2010, 05:17:58 AM »
Great to see more appreciation, also i found a text somewhere on the internet that they have a release planned for this year, and i quote from the discography: "Psyche (2010)".
If there's any truth in that, this means awesome news. :)

Offline faemir

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2010, 09:15:59 AM »
Listening to Perdition City right now for the first time!

Offline Zantera

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2010, 09:54:08 AM »
Listening to Perdition City right now for the first time!

awesome! get back with update :)

Offline faemir

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #10 on: March 14, 2010, 11:16:27 AM »
Listened 3 times....

 :omg:

I'll get the later two albums soon, but want to let it settle and listen to something more upbeat. Herro Devin Townsend :laugh:

Offline Zantera

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #11 on: March 14, 2010, 12:15:05 PM »
I really love, like Portrucci pointed out... the variety in the Ulver-sound.
EOS is such a beautiful masterpiece, one of the saddest songs i've heard, but it's far from the sound on Perdition City.
Also, gotta praise "Porn Piece or the Scars of Cold Kisses", i love it.
The singing on the end <3

Offline faemir

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #12 on: March 14, 2010, 12:44:01 PM »
The singing on the end <3

Indeed, I wish that Garm would get the hell back into a reunited Arcturus :angry:

Offline Zantera

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #13 on: March 15, 2010, 11:41:06 AM »
Picked up Perdition City from a record store today, got shocked when i saw it.
Seriously, even though they're at least a bit famous (and from Norway, aka. very close to Sweden) it was pretty surprising.
Found it under "Metal", still awesome though.

Offline Portrucci

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #14 on: March 15, 2010, 05:27:27 PM »
Picked up Perdition City from a record store today, got shocked when i saw it.
Seriously, even though they're at least a bit famous (and from Norway, aka. very close to Sweden) it was pretty surprising.
Found it under "Metal", still awesome though.
Wow nice  :tup :tup I had to order it online, zero chance of finding it anywhere in Australia  :sadpanda:

But also, DO WANT


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Offline Zantera

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #15 on: March 16, 2010, 03:03:53 AM »

Wow nice  :tup :tup I had to order it online, zero chance of finding it anywhere in Australia  :sadpanda:

But also, DO WANT




DO WANT! o_O

Offline SPNKr

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #16 on: April 30, 2010, 03:05:46 AM »
I've been into this band for a while now, Perdition City is just awesome and Blood Inside are maybe the best. Garm is a technological bad-ass.

Offline Portrucci

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #17 on: April 30, 2010, 03:09:15 AM »
Ok, I am quite familiar with their discography now, and all I can say is I hope their new album is something completely different. I have a bad suspicion that it's going to be Shadows of The Sun mk 2, since the guys seem pretty comfortable with this style, but I still hope for something more upbeat and energetic like Blood Inside...but different  :azn:
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Offline Zantera

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #18 on: April 30, 2010, 03:31:01 AM »
Blood Inside is actually an album i haven't quite gotten blown away by yet.
Perdition City and Shadows of the Sun are amazing, i also really like Svidd Neger.
Bergtatt is also pretty epic, mostly because of the story behind it. :)

Offline Portrucci

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #19 on: April 30, 2010, 03:37:05 AM »
Blood Inside is actually an album i haven't quite gotten blown away by yet.
Perdition City and Shadows of the Sun are amazing, i also really like Svidd Neger.
Bergtatt is also pretty epic, mostly because of the story behind it. :)
Yeah, Blood Inside didn't click for me for ages. I probably didn't listen to it for a few months after I first got it. It's quite intimidating, sort of a wall of sound. But persist! It is one of there best. Also, I wasn't insinuating that I don't like Shadows of The Sun, I fucking love it  :biggrin: and I will probably love the new album what ever it is, because im a massive fanboy
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Offline Zantera

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #20 on: April 30, 2010, 03:40:08 AM »
I really love the chill-factor on Shadows of the Sun.
It's one of my favorite albums to listen to, when i just want beautiful & subtle music.
"EOS" was an instant favorite, but i gotta say i love "All the Love" + "Like Music", those 2 songs melt into each other in a wonderful way, and might be my highlight of the album. :D

Offline Portrucci

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #21 on: May 03, 2010, 03:33:43 AM »
God damn it. I just wanted to listen to Dressed In Black and I ended up listening to the whole of Blood Inside. That happens every damn time  :lol unknowingly as well!

Anyway, just bumped to say, Dressed In Black is amazing. I love the tense build up and the EPIC AS FUCK piano part. Gives me chills. Carry on gentlemen  :hat
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Offline ariich

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #22 on: May 03, 2010, 05:46:48 AM »
Ok, I am quite familiar with their discography now, and all I can say is I hope their new album is something completely different. I have a bad suspicion that it's going to be Shadows of The Sun mk 2, since the guys seem pretty comfortable with this style, but I still hope for something more upbeat and energetic like Blood Inside...but different  :azn:
Not sure what you mean by that. Shadows of the Sun isn't like anything else they've done (except A Quick Fix, but that was only an EP), so I don't why you feel that they're comfortable with that style. It's Ulver, they never do the same thing two albums in a row. :lol

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Offline Zantera

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #23 on: May 03, 2010, 05:49:47 AM »
It's Ulver, they never do the same thing two albums in a row. :lol

AMEN to that!  :)

Offline Portrucci

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #24 on: May 03, 2010, 06:07:00 AM »
Ok, I am quite familiar with their discography now, and all I can say is I hope their new album is something completely different. I have a bad suspicion that it's going to be Shadows of The Sun mk 2, since the guys seem pretty comfortable with this style, but I still hope for something more upbeat and energetic like Blood Inside...but different  :azn:
Not sure what you mean by that. Shadows of the Sun isn't like anything else they've done (except A Quick Fix, but that was only an EP), so I don't why you feel that they're comfortable with that style. It's Ulver, they never do the same thing two albums in a row. :lol
Just a hunch. From reading nearly all recent interviews with Garm/Ulver I could find.

But beleive me, I would expect them to do something quite different. And to do it quite well  :millahhhh
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Offline Portrucci

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #25 on: May 03, 2010, 06:13:30 AM »
btw, here is a GREAT interview with the guys from November 09. Do read it! (if you haven't already)

https://www.avantgarde-metal.com/content/stories2.php?id=127
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Offline tri.ad

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #26 on: July 14, 2010, 02:58:16 PM »
I got Shadows Of The Sun a few days ago. Very strong release imo; Eos and What Happened? are nothing short of beautiful. Have to listen to the other songs a few more times, though.
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Offline ariich

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #27 on: July 14, 2010, 03:33:08 PM »
I love Shadows of the Sun, lovely mellow and atmospheric album! :tup

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Offline Zantera

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #28 on: July 14, 2010, 03:40:02 PM »
I love Shadows of the Sun, lovely mellow and atmospheric album! :tup

It's my favorite Ulver-album together with Perdition City.
Simply amazing. :)

Offline ariich

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #29 on: July 14, 2010, 03:41:56 PM »
My favourites are Perdition City and Blood Inside, but SotS is very close behind.

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Offline ClairvoyantCat

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #30 on: July 14, 2010, 03:52:42 PM »
I never got into Perdition City quite like everyone else did.  I just found it kind of bland.  But I DO love Shadows of the Sun.  REALLY love. 

Offline Dr. SeaWolf

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #31 on: July 15, 2010, 05:41:11 AM »
I'm personally a HUGE fan of the black metal trilogy, and I have a few of the electronic albums (Perdition City, Blood Inside) and they're great too :tup

Offline Arcaeus

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #32 on: August 05, 2010, 03:27:40 PM »
Bumping this thread because I've started to really get into Ulver recently and they seem to me to be one of the most consistent, innovative and just plain awesome bands around today. Perdition City and Blood Inside are both near-perfect albums, and the others I have, Bergtatt, Kveldssanger and Shadows Of The Sun are all absolutely incredible as well (and I don't even like most black metal, in regards to the first, though it is very different). It's too early to say anything right now, but I think they'll quite easily make it to my top ten favorite artists in music list.

Any news on Psyche?

Offline Marvellous G

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #33 on: August 05, 2010, 05:05:13 PM »
Listening to Perdition City right now for the first time!

Offline Portrucci

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Re: Ulver-appreciation thread
« Reply #34 on: August 05, 2010, 08:38:28 PM »
Bumping this thread because I've started to really get into Ulver recently and they seem to me to be one of the most consistent, innovative and just plain awesome bands around today. Perdition City and Blood Inside are both near-perfect albums, and the others I have, Bergtatt, Kveldssanger and Shadows Of The Sun are all absolutely incredible as well (and I don't even like most black metal, in regards to the first, though it is very different). It's too early to say anything right now, but I think they'll quite easily make it to my top ten favorite artists in music list.

Any news on Psyche?
I haven't heard anything yet I'm afraid. They are touring until the 16th of August according to last.fm, so you'd assume after that, they will hit the studio and we should have an album by late 2010...hopefully  :biggrin:

And yes, I agree with most of what you said there. I'd also pick up 'Svidd Neger' which is a soundtrack they made for a Norwegian film, but it really stands up on it's own  :hat oh and also get 'A Quick Fix of Melancholy [EP]' only 20 minutes long, but it's from [2003], between Perdition City and Blood Inside, so you can see some of the 'metamorphosis' occurring  :)
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