Customer Reviews

III

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was compelled to buy this cd when Luke Crampton mentioned this band on "World Beat". I needed only five seconds to become enthralled with this Danish band and it's unique sound. Never have I heard electronic beats be applied to Nordic ballads, I absolutely found this sound quite refreshing and invigorating. "Ulver" is a six and a half minute long epic. The beats are not as fast as techno nor slow as trip hop. "Roselil Rose" is a charming ballad". Ulla Bendixen's vocals are as alluring and seductive as say Ruth-Ann's (Olive) and Joanna Stevens (Solar Twins). The electronic beats are electrifying and well controlled. Henrik Munch and Martin Ottosen do a excellent job in not allowing the beats dominate the songs and blending them with traditional Nordic melodies. "III" is a sensual treat for the ears.

III can be described as the nitty grittier music of Sorten Muld. Leaving most traditional instruments behind (that I'd come to expect from Mark II) they delve deeper into the trance/techno aspects of their soundings. The star on the album is no longer Ulla Bendixen's beautiful voice, but the underlying melodies themselves. Dipping into sampling and more complex rhythms, they definitely want to emphasize the music more than the vocals. No wonder there's an all instrumental track! Some may miss the soaring violins and bagpipes from Mark II, but the electronics make up for it. The material is darker, the lyrics even bloodier and more arcane than before, but it never gets too heavy for Bendixen's voice. Songs to admire; Roselil Rose (a good intro to their newer groove) Lordagskvaeld (the sampling will perk up your ears) Volven (some dance tunes here) Ramund (echoey and mysterious) and Tor af Hafsgaard (the only time that Bendixen's voice rises above a whisper...and rise it does!) Overall I'd recommend it highly, but if you're a new listener, Mark II is easier to get into. It's just more catchy and well-thought out.

I don't know what I can say about Sorten Muld's III that will make you buy it, but consider all of that said already. Buy this CD!

Being a fan of Sorten Muld from their first album, Mark II, I was excited to hear what the Danish quartet could come up with next. I loved tracks on Mark II such as 2 Soestre, Kirstin, Jeg Gik Mig Ud... and Venelite for their beautiful vocals and powerful instrumentals, but didn't like the more heavily "thumpy" tracks like Ravnen (too techno-y for me) or the tracks which seemed somehow meaningless such as the first and last tracks (long titles, I'm not going to write them)... so going into III, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. All I knew is that I would most likely find at least something to love on it.

When I thought this, I honestly had no idea what I was in for--one of the most astounding, refreshingly REAL albums to appear in a very, very long time. Sorten Muld effortlessly combines ancient Danish ballads with excitingly modern electronica, blending Ulla Bendixen's astounding vocal talents into a vibrant, unique mix. It's important to understand that the entire album is sung in Danish, and therefore you may not understand a word, but that's hardly the point of an experience such as this one.

Roselil Rose opens with keyed harps and bagpipes and quickly goes into a heavy drumline--from the beginning of this album you realize "wow, this is something completely different". Needless to say, it just keeps getting better. When that chorus floats above the roaring drums, you know you're in for a treat. It is with this first track that Sorten Muld displays their progression from the half-whispered world of Mark II to the soaring, powerful new sound of III.

Saturday Night is a peaceful little electronic/vocal work; not one of my faves but a definitely well-produced little track that gets better with time. It definitely belongs on the album, but is not one of the better songs.

Volven is the fastest song on the album, and is quite good. A very memorable sound to this one; electronic whirlwinds and pulsing drums aplenty.

Margjit: I don't know what I can even say about this one. It's brilliant. Whispered, secretive Ulla reveals a hidden world of tranquility and beauty--the chorus extends this song into what I can only deem a dream's soundtrack. Stunning. The percussion, when it comes in, is one of the absolute best parts.

Ulver -- this song is very obviously ancient, and keeps its "old/new" sound pretty well... the keyed harps work extremely well with the percussion, and the overall effect is quite breathtaking. Good to have at high volume! It is in this song that we hear the much more sophisicated panning and "surfacing" feeling in this CD--Ulla's voice seems to come from everywhere at once, only to float away just as quickly.

Ramund is almost as fast as Ulver, and has a similar feeling to it--in fact, my only complaint against this album is that there are a few songs that sound too similar amidst the strikingly different songs on the rest of the album. I'd say Ramund is much better than Ulver, so I'd prefer Ulver not being on the CD since it sounds so similar.

Linden is a first for Sorten Muld - an instrumental track. And what a track! It's quite obvious that the electronics have advanced since Sorten Muld's debut and are now instruments in their own right--this song sure gets that point across. One of my favorite songs on the CD, and a perfect environmental piece to get your blood moving. Also serves as a perfect lead-in to...

Tor af Haafsgard - WOAH. That may be all I can say at this point.. no, I can say more. The first note pours over you like thick rain. Ulla's voice flows in with an added note of confidence this time around, and the backing flows and ebbs around her. Drums begin to beat, and electronics and echoes penetrate the edges of this sonic tour de force. More echoes... and then that singing, that unbelievable, breathtaking soul within it... Ulla's voice stops whispering and starts SINGING! If this unbelievable mind-melt doesn't make you want to get up and run; fly; do something extraordinary, you aren't listening. This song utterly SOARS... this is what you listen to music for. If you haven't made up your mind yet, let this song make it up for you--this is one of the best single songs I have ever heard.

Coming down off the euphoria that Tor is...

Dagmar - a beautiful piece held together mostly through electronics (very little singing but when it comes in it's quite beautiful), this is a perfect way to bring one down from the roaring, pulsing sound of Tor af Haafsgard.

And lastly,

Laenge Siden - an extraordinary, haunting little piece. Quiet but extremely good, full of emotion and energy despite its relatively whispery sound. A great last track, and one that makes you want to start the whole experience over again.

All told, III is a fabulous album, and quite a worthy follow-up to Mark II. My only complaints are in regard to the Ulver/Ramund similarities, and the relatively useless Saturday Night (which I don't dislike, but somehow it doesn't fit in quite as well). The remainder of the songs are pure bliss, and each one is worth the price of admission alone. Tor af Haafsgard... astounding. Utterly astounding.

All of the tracks on the cd are good but they lack something and that something is what makes Mark II so much better. The hooks aren't as good and the back up vocals can get annoying and repetitive on a few of the middle tracks. Perhaps it is the lack of traditional melody along with the lyrics and music in the songs, or perhaps not. It also seems to have a more consistent club beat whereas Mark II is more subtle with the electronic beats on most songs. Volven is amusing but doesn't compare to The Raven and none compare to the beauty of The Man and the Elf Girl or Venelite. I am by no means going to toss the disc aside or write it or the band off. As I said, there is some good stuff on III (Ulver, Ramund, Linden, Tor af Hafsgaard, and Dagmar---the middle to end tracks) but I do like Mark II much better.

I, too, was intrigued by the segment on Sorten Muld III that I heard on NPR's World Music. (Danish music?? Who listens to Danish music?) On the strength of that review alone, I bought Sorten Muld II and III and have not regretted it once. Most of the reviews here seem to favor the first album (II), but III is definitely my favorite (although they are both excellent). Sorten Muld III adds traditional Scandinavian folk music and a modern touch of electronica, but the result is more than the sum of the parts. The beautiful vocals are enhanced by the fascinating textures of the rhythms and music. I highly recommend this album to anyone who is interested in expanding their musical horizons; you may be surprised at just how good this group is.

Sorten Muld's album, Mark II, was first brought to my attention in 1998 on one of my many trips to Denmark. Mark II is a phenomenal album, and I still listen to it regularly.

The band's new album, III, doesn't have the same effect as its predecessor. That's not to say it isn't good. It's just not as incredible as Mark II. Nonetheless, it is an engaging collection, not only from a conceptual standpoint but also in terms of its advanced use of electronics. I most certainly recommend it.

Actually, one of the things I was disappointed with is the fact that the lyrics appear in English only. (But don't mind me...)

One of the best band's to come out of the new Scandinavian roots revival movement, Sorten Muld take their traditional Danish roots (who knew the Danes had anything worth hearing??) and blend them with modern electronica, resulting in two great albums. This one, III, is moodier and emphasizes the more modern aspects of their sound moreso than on Mark II, but still mesmorizes, especially with singer Ulla Bendixsen's breathy vocal stylings. You almost forget the lyrics aren't even in English as the soundscapes that the band creates wash over you.
The best tracks include: Roselil Rose, Lordagskvaeld, Volven, Ramund, and Tor af Hafsgaard. A couple of the slower tracks verge on hip/pop, but the band maintains their dark mood throughout, ensuring that the album doesn't drift too far from center while still keeping it all accessible.
Even if the album on the whole is not quite as good as Mark II, it is still a wonderful disc and shows that Sorten Muld hasn't slumped.

They just don't stop!!! Tracks 5-10 are a solid block of top-notch songs. Excellent vocals from Ulla Bendixen matched with superb instrumentation. This group's music is addicting - so beware! I can't stop listening to this CD, along with its predecessor "Mark II". DEFINITELY a CD that leaves you wanting more. Sorten Muld's 2 CDs even have me motivated to learn Danish - now that's powerful music!

More compelling folk/rock/dance/electronica about love, sex, life, and death from this unique and under-publicized Danish band. Not as arresting as Sorten Muld II, but a solid followup worth the purchase.

I have not been long into the International and this is my first foray into Nordic. I was idly looking for something to "tickle my eardrums" and found Sorten Muld III. If you are looking for the traditional folk songs, played in a traditional way, this is not for you. If, on the other hand, you are looking for something innovative and modern, it will please you, as it did me. The singer has a somewhat sultry appeal. The lyrics, printed in English, have sly suggestions far from the usual love songs.