Ulver’s 2007 release, ‘Shadows of the Sun’ was, as usual, something completely different sounding to their previous recording and of course its something not easily described, but something that's easily beautiful in its execution and style. The music this time around foregoes any of the rock or metal-ish moments that sneaked in on, ‘Blood Inside’ for a more stripped down highly atmospheric melancholic sound that is based around keyboards, piano, minimal electronics, some stringed and brass instruments (violin, viola, cello, trumpet) and of course Kristoffer’s stunning lead vocals.
It could be said that this is an enriched ambient album since the music does contain a very similar sentiment with the addition of lots of beautiful synth melodies, piano, odd samples and various bizarre electronics all over the place that recall the bands 'silence' era. Of course the stringed instruments only enhance the ambient mood further since they seemed to be played in droning sort of manner rather then sounding typically classical. Electric guitar is used on the Black Sabbath cover and although this version of the bands classic, ‘Solitude’ is slightly different it is nearly just as powerful and somber sounding as the original though, of course, no one could possibly hope to top such a classic song.
Kris’ vocals are naturally one of the key points in this recording although he doesn’t stick to just singing in his normal operatic tone as this time around he also uses whispery & spoken voices, and usually he sounds rather depressed.
All in all I find this to be a really, really tough album to describe, but on the other hand it is considerably enjoyable and infinitely gorgeous. The album moves at a very slow pace and never at any point does it go fast nor does it need to. This is also obviously not an everyday album due to its melancholic character, but still, it’s Ulver so it’s hard to resist.
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