For over two decades Bjørke has cut his own path, as a solo artist and enthusiastic collaborator. Bjørke’s Copenhagen home may be one of Europe’s great cultural hubs, and he’s certainly added a paragraph or two to that story, but his music is distinctly international. Even a cursory listen exposes an impressive, ever-evolving career. However, few expected him to initiate the collaborative ambient / neo-classical project Kasper Bjørke Quartet. In 2018 The Fifty Eleven Project was released on Kompakt Records, a deeply personal record that musically documents Bjørkes encounter with, and triumph over, cancer. The album topped many critics' lists, and was included among The Guardian’s Best Contemporary Albums of the year.
Mother, which will be released on October 28th, represents a quantum leap forward. Literally, when you consider the terrestrial shifts that informed it. Six compositions explore what the evolution of our planet sounds like. While Holst may have gotten there first, Mother singularly focuses on the orb where we reside, from its formation, to its likely conclusion. Other artists have tackled song cycles that parallel a day, a year, or even a lifetime. Mother spans a timeframe from 4.5 billion years ago up to humankind’s impending demise. It hints at how that may be sooner than we think, as well as the earth’s resilience, and the promise of another chapter.
Additional gravity comes courtesy of evocative choir arrangements - - and marimba recorded at the Copenhagen Opera House. “Formation” condenses 20 million years of runaway accretion into 20 minutes. It is sublimely padded by feature artist Sofie Birch’s gentle synths. “Abiogenesis” intimates a different type of emergence: the first life to inhabit our nascent planet. The entire cosmos is condensed into the layered vocals of Philip|Schneider. Birch returns on “Miocene,” which signals the divergence of proto-humans from primates not with foreboding, but rather cascaded notes and swells adumbrating a pure and curious being, revealing nothing of what the Catch-22 of knowledge will bring. That’s addressed in the diptych of “Anthropocene” and “Tipping Points,” respectively marking the dawn and foreshadowing the probable downfall of homosapians, through wondrous advancements and their climate damaging byproducts. It’s tempting to think the album’s finale, “Requiem,” implies only a dark conclusion, owing to its sparkling verrillon’s coronach, and the return of Philip|Schneider’s empyrean vocals, but its juxtaposition with revolving, enigmatic piano chords infers the earth will enter its next act.
Mother is a staggering achievement, encouraging contemplative thought.
The album is released October 28th on Kompakt Records, both digitally and on limited edition double vinyl. The atwork is designed by multidisciplinary artist Trevor Jackson.
KASPER BJØRKE QUARTET: MOTHER
Music Credits:
- Kasper Bjørke (Synthesizers, Producer and Mixer)
- Davide Rossi (Violin, viola, cello) has collected multiple Grammys,and has studied under Karlheinz Stockhausen and Robert Fripp. He is without parallel as a modern arranger, having worked with Kanye, Alicia Keys, Frank Ocean, Moby, Jon Hopkins, The Verve, Goldfrapp, to name a select few, but may be best known for his long standing relationship with Coldplay.
- Claus Noreen (Synthesizers) has been active in Danish electronic and pop circles for years, as both musician and producer, currently under his brand new Langstrakt moniker.
- Jakob Littauer (Piano) Musician / Composer / Producer who works with artists including Mø and CTM.
- Mathias Friis-Hansen & David Hildebrandt (Marimba on Anthropocene) Versatile, classical musicians, both part of the award winning PACE Percussion Trio.
- Sofie Birch (Features with additional synths on Formation and Miocene) Musician, producer and NTS resident Sofie Birch is a rising artist on the ambient scene. Her new album Holotropica has been praised by the music press, incl. Pitchfork.
- Philip|Schneider (Features with vocals on Abiogenesis and Requiem) Celebrated performance duo Josephine Philip and Hannah Schneider who is known for their seductive spatial voice compositions that engage the body, ears and mind.
There is a distinct thread that runs through Kasper Bjørke’s vast body of work. Whether it’s an instrumental club jam, a
radio friendly affair, one of his forays into the more ambient side of things - the DNA is unmistakably Bjørke’s. Finding that perfect balance of emotion and groove. Though the musical scenery might change over time, Bjørke's sound and vision is clearly evident throughout....more
Each song this year really stands out in its own unique & particular way.
From the start, Sonne begins with a quick, dramatic opening. The spacious soundscapes of Air, catchy guitar strums on Nero, the many collabs & the two ensemble pieces of the Sono Kollektiv; I find myself coming back to this Pop Ambient for the personality amongst the songs that seem to shine bright on this annual installment.
The cover art is perfect for the song selection here; beautiful, bright, & eye-catching. dubbleaye
My god, what an absolutely incredible Suite. I'll admit, I've struggled to get into Pharoah Sanders due to diving headfirst into some of his most challenging catalogue and that never worked. This is the perfect place to restart. Floating Points is new for me and I can honestly say I've never heard synthesizer music this lush and organic before. the LSO is just perfect. This is one of those albums that any serious music fan needs in their life. The perfect swan song for the great Pharaoh! 5/5 ClassyMusicSnob
The latest from Bristol-based DJ Laurence Guy is is full of deft house cuts sure to uplift spirits and banish post-holiday blues. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 5, 2023
Gripping, beautifully textured electronic songs from Rachel Palmer with absorbing melodies that move from melancholy to meditative. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 23, 2020