Customer Reviews

Ulver

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This was pretty much the first folk style album I got, other than Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left. After enjoying the little acoustic parts in metal songs such as very early In Flames, early Dark Tranquillity, At the Gates, Opeth, even Satyricon, this was recommended to me as an album full of little folk songs like that, and it certainly was the perfect suggestion. Most of the songs are very short, as in 2-4 minutes, some are even 1 minute, with the exception of the last track which is nearly 7 minutes. The album is only 35 minutes altogether. It's the same thing with the 2 black metal albums though, just because a CD is short doesn't mean it's bad. Unfortunately I didn't get this right away because I didn't like the vocals, and waited until I discovered some electronic works of Ulver (which are also excellent) to start collecting the old stuff. Now my folk collection has grown far beyond this, and it remains one of the most unique albums in my folk collection, probably due to the vocal style. It didn't really inspire most of my folk collection though, that honor goes to Sol Invictus.

The prominent vocal style I speak of is mostly chanting in Norwegian. Maybe some people are repelled by this because these vocals seem to strong and take away from the calm acoustic playing, but I got used to them and started to enjoy them because of the uniqueness. Tracks 2 and 7 are total a-cappella, track 7 being particularly interesting for no instruments (track 2 is only 17 seconds long).

Most of this album is instrumental, containing acoustic guitars of course, and violins, cellos and flutes. As you should know, this is Ulver's only folk album, in the middle of their black-metal trilogie, but it has no hint of black metal in the music. If you're close-minded and can't listen to anything without harsh vocals and heavily distorted guitars, this isn't for you.

There's really not much to say about each individual track, the acoustic playing is brilliant and beautiful, constantly going through different ideas instead of just strumming the same thing through the whole song. My favorite acoustic playing is probably in the song "Halling," it is just so warm and welcoming. "Nattleite" contains mostly cellos and calm chanting, and the remix, later found on "Quick Fix of Melancholy" is interesting. The first song, "Østenfor Sol Og Vestenfor Maane" has some of the most prominent chanting vocals and mix of instruments. "Hiertets Vee" breaks down near the end into some ambient background noise and some fluffy flute playing.

Fans of "metallers-gone-folk" like later Empyrium, Of Wand & The Moon; fans of Viking/Folk metal such as Vintersorg; and the little acoustic parts in metal that I mentioned above should love this. I'm sure this was quite unexpected when it first came out, and that was just the beginning of the unexpected twists and turns that Garm the Genius would cook up.

There is not a singular album that can describe the "Ulver sound". The Norwegian band is quite possibly the most amorphous band I have ever encountered, commanding sounds from extreme black-metal to pop-influenced electronica. But for my personal tastes, "Kveldssanger" is one of their most beautiful and haunting works they have crafted.

The album begins with "Østenfor Sol og vestenfor Maane", with a guitar, a bass, and an eerie baritone voice. Later joined by several harmonized voices and a cello, the piece is instantly frightening and unsettling, setting the tone for the rest of the album. The second track, "Ord" is literally 17 seconds long, and is the scariest a cappella you will ever hear, led by a low bass voice and harmonized Norwegian folk.

The album is ripe with this mood. Songs like "Høyfjeldsbilde" pride themselves on their catchy and pleasant guitar-work, always gravitating around a bleak, pastoral theme. However short, the songs are direct and very similar to folk-contemporaries Empyrium.

For the ultimate in doom, look no further than "A Cappella (Sielens Sang)", a song composed of only voices for a gloomy and foreboding 86 seconds. Although Garm's voice in this song isn't classically or operatically trained (à la Empyrium's "A Cappella"), it is still an impressive delivery and a tremendous feat of songwriting.

Kveldssanger is a treat. It was a blind buy, and a worthwhile one. If you are impressed or amused by the translation of Scandinavia's seemingly morose and depressing pasture into acoustic guitars and strings, then this album deserves a place in your collection.

See also: Empyrium - "Weiland", "Where At Night the Wood Grouse Plays", Estatic Fear - "A Sombre Dance"

Ulver have done it again. Another incredible album. Many consider this piece of work to be boring and not 'black metal'.
What I say is that you should try and appreciate the music for what it is, and not judge it because it doesn't exactly tie in with the Bergtatt and Nattens Madrigal albums. Fans of Ulver who own the two 'black metal' releases should be able to appreciate this album, and see through the empty ignorant comments that some people have made in the past.
This album is able to create the same strange/evil yet beautiful atmosphere that the other two 'black metal' releases manage to create, without using the aggression found on the other two.
This is something that I admire about Ulver. Whatever style of music they produce, whether it be black metal, folk, electronic they still manage to create the atmosphere perfectly.
People new to Ulver, who are also fans of extreme metal, I suggest that you start with Bergtatt. The reason being is that you have the extreme elements of Ulver, contrasted with the folkish elements on Kveldssanger. Once you start to appreciate the folkish parts on Bergtatt, you will be able to appreciate this album.

This is a very relaxing cd, with only acoustic songs celebrating Norwegian folklore. The atmosphere is one of beauty, the singing is in Norwegian and fits the music perfectly, and the (often short) acoustic songs are beautiful to listen to. This cd has nothing to do with the rest Ulver has to offer (besides Bergtatt), for they made a trilogy celebrating Norwegian folklore and history (nattens Madrigal, Bergtatt, Kveldssanger), but they now make a completely different kind of music, also atmospheric but electronic and avantgarde, more like softer parts of Arcturus. But it is still a pleasure listening to this cd; it's one of the better acoustic cd's coming from the dark metalgenre and people who know Empyrium for instance should like this as well.

at first i only liked a few songs now after the 3rd time of actually sitting and listening to it i love it. even though its not black metal to the extream its ulver in its own way. it is beautifuly dark. and it puts u in a place of peace. if u are a ulver fan or a fan of peaceful dark music that puts u in the mountians on a cloudy foggy day. DO NOT MISS THIS!!!!!!!!!. one of the best works of ulver. i also recommend bergtatt, nattens madrigal, and shadows of the sun. i havnt heard the other albums but not to sure its for me.

The mad thing about this album is that is a one of a kind. The idea itself is very simple: Put one haunting male vocal over some simple arpeggios on nylon stringed guitar. Add a tiny bit of echo to the voice, add another voice and every couple of tracks add a bit of flute or a solitary drum beat. On some tracks guitars are layered - with up to four guitars intertwining simple melodies in gradual succession.

But the wonder is if the idea is so simple how come noone has done anything to touch this. Some Isengard stuff comes close but Ulver are in class of their own on this album. It's a real concept album (make of this what you may), ideal for putting on and wandering about the house on a Saturday afternoon.

For me this album brings back memories of my teenage years - a not entirely happy time - and it may be a bit downbeat for some. However the difference between this album and many others that I listened to back then is that it still appeals to me in the same way. For better or worse I have not outgrown it.

For their second album, Ulver decided to drop the metal completely and instead do accoustical folk music. Well kudos to Ulver for breaking into new horizins in balck metal! Most of these songs are instrumentals, the few that have singing show a chorus of strange male choirs that sing in such an unusual way. Their not your normal chamber choirs. They are deep and earthy and seem to be more of a traditional Germanic choir. Ulver also incorporates the use of cellos, flutes, and other such sounds to add more color to their music. This is important because sometimes the songs are a bit similar in instrument use. This is not average folk though. Maybe it's Norwegian folk, but it just has a unique sound, a different vibe. Songs are inventive and have simple but interesting tunes to them. The mood is very melancholic, especially track 8 where you can actually hear Garm breathing in the background. Songs like track 2 and track 7 are all vocals with no instruments. Track 10 actually seems relaxing and comfortingly friendly, like sitting in a mountaintop forest on a bright Sunday morning. The album cover painting is just awful to me! However, the band photos and the art on the cd itself are amazing.
Even buy the second album, Ulver is breaking artistic expectations. Good job guys.

I can't honestly claim to have heard tons of black metal music, as whenever I take a listen to any of it, I get bored: having read the superb 'Lords of Chaos' book, I was hoping black metal would be atmospheric, Eurocentric, original and awe-inspiring. Apart from Ulver's 'Kveldssanger', most black metal appears to be adolescent, often amateurishly played and tediously 'rebellious'.
'Kveldssanger' however is really rebellious. After all, it's all played on acoustic instruments for a start, something I've been waiting to hear in metal music since the seventies. Consequently, it will shock and appall the more mindless metal fans, but for any fan of rock music with a more open mind the Nordic chants, moody guitar pickings and chilly ambience of this original and refreshing record points the way forward for metal by looking backwards - after all, it was European folk songs that were the basis of rock music as much as african polyrythms (which quite honestly only appear in jazz of all popular musics). I strongly recommend 'Kveldssanger'. If there are any other albums out there that stretch the boundaries of the bm genre this way, I'd love to hear about them...

This album is pure excellence.Though not black metal in sound,this album conjures up an atmosphere that practically all black metal bands would kill for.Kveldssanger is dark,but at the same time very tranquil.There is such a feeling of sorrow on this album,It has to be heard to be believed.I had previously bought Nattens Madrigal and Bergtatt from Ulver,and I was expecting this to be perhaps a cross between the two albums I already owned.Upon first listen,I thought I had bought the wrong CD,but as I accepted the album for what it is,it just occured to me that this album fits perfectly with Ulver's black metal trilogy.To black metallers reading this review,give this one a chance!!!This album paints the mental picture of Norwegian woods on a cold frosty night better than anything I've ever heard before.Though I still prefer Nattens Madrigal to Kveldssanger,they are two completely different entities musically.I recommend buying Bergtatt,Kveldssanger,and Nattens Madrigal at once,because you really have to own these three to get the Ulver experience IMO.I am disregarding the electronic releases of Ulver because they have nothing to do with the black metal trilogy and are therefore irrelevant.

Ulver's history is a peculiar one, ranging from pretty extreme and lo-fi black metal albums (which I personally don't like, even though I'm really into metal) to a experimental obscure techno sound (which I haven't got into it that much). So this abruptness into the change of style and sound always seemed pretty intriguing for me, and what called my attention the most was that their second album (Kveldssanger) was actually a pretty amazing and well executed acoustic performance.

The first time I listened to this I didn't put much attention to it, and it just felt like it was an "ok album". I just heard it like backing music while I was doing other things, so I didn't pay any attention to details. Since I was still pretty intrigued in the Ulver's not-so-orthodox way of making music, I gave it another try. After that I just kept listening to it when I recall it existed.

So, I'm sure that you have had the feeling of hearing little parts of songs in your head, and they stick with you for days or even weeks until you calm your hunger for music by going and listening to whatever your mind is telling you to listen to. I had it with Kveldssanger. And then I found myself listening to the whole album once and then again and again until I realized that I've been listening to one of the most amazing and artistic experiences that music can give you.

Hear my advice: At the begging you may find the vocals hard to grasp, but give it some time, you'll learn to love it. Some songs may have no sense for you if you listen to them separately, but they put some character and feel of completeness to the whole album, so listen to all of it instead of separate songs (at least the first times until you recognize the songs you love). Even though the main genre of this album is some kind of folk metal, it still has the black metal atmosphere in it.

Remember, this is not any kind of popular music with those catchy songs that people at the end tends to forget. You may not come to love this album at the beginning, but what I actually like is that every time I listen to it I discover something new in it. This isn't just music. This is art. It is about the experience of listening through it and perceive the mood and the atmosphere it throws at you. Definitively one of the most amazing and enjoyable albums I have found out there. Take this journey.