Lost Girls is the latest project from Norwegian artist Jenny Hval, this time working with Harved Volden. Artist is the right word here because Menneskekollectivit, the album they've made together, is brimful of ideas. It's like walking through a multimedia installation at a modern art gallery and sets off a lot of the reactions that might be inspired by that experience.
Some might find it pretentious and it's certainly ambitious. My own definition of pretentious is when an artist is not in control of the ideas they're attempting to project. Essentially they're showing off but without the substance to back up what they're saying. Menneskekollectivit is an exercise in consummate control and it's a wonderful enveloping experience, pulsing, rhythmic, (electro is the word that comes to mind trying to describe its musical ambience, it has a pulse), brilliant.In many ways extraordinary.
There's so much great new music around at the moment and this is right up there with the very best of the things I've heard so far in 2021. Five tracks in all, a couple of them stretching beyond ten minutes. The title and opening track, a journey in itself, gives you more than your money's worth.
You might not be able to grasp all of the ideas behind the album but it's a good enough one that you should be able to experience, feel and appreciate them just by listening to it. Mission accomplished then. A very fine record indeed.
No comments:
Post a Comment