Genre/Influences: Experimental, Abstract, Soundscape.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Swedish artist Erik Levander has released his seventh full length album, but the first one on Glacial Movements. “Jökel” means ‘glacier’ and is totally appropriated to the conceptual approach of the Italian label. The album is inspired by Levander’s trip to Iceland where he visited the  Mýrdalsjökull, a glacier famous for covering the active volcano Katla. The word jökel is taken from the Icelandic language.

Content: “Jökel” sounds as a kind of abstract Soundscape; sonic manipulations and field recordings creating a constant, dense atmosphere of darkness. You get the impression of being surrounded by the sound of thunder. Buzzing sound waves and crispy noises accentuate the weird, ominous sensation emerging of this work. 

+ + + : This work has something extreme and hardly accessible and yeti t has a somewhat inhibited and even intimate atmosphere. It feels a bit like an imaginary melt down between the artist and the magic vision of the glacier. The dark and mysterious sphere for sure has something intriguing, which comes mainly through on “Yta”.

– – – : I can’t say this is my favorite work from the Glacial Movements roster although it perfectly fits to the label’s sound approach. There’s no real trace of climax, the track becoming a bit monotonous after a while. This is the kind of work, which needs visual support.

Conclusion: The concept is far more interesting than the result although this is a production that will please fans of Abstract music experiences.

Best songs: “Yta”.

Rate: (6).

Artist: http://erik.levander.dk

Label: www.glacialmovements.com / www.facebook.com/glacialmovements

About Erik Levander

Erik Levander is a Swedish composer and musician whose discography on Discogs dates back to “17:e November” in 2000, followed by releases including “Mars EP” (2003) and “Kondens” (2008). No Side-Line archive coverage predates this review.

“Jökel”, released in 2021, was his seventh full length and his first for Glacial Movements. The album’s title takes its name from the Icelandic word for glacier, tied to the artist’s visit to the Mýrdalsjökull glacier covering the active volcano Katla.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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Katla is an Icelandic band featuring the ex-Sólstafir drummer and visual artist Guðmundur Óli Pálmason plus the singer/multi-instrumentalist Einar Thorberg Guðmundsson (Fortíð, Potentiam). Katla offers cinematic / panoramic music mixing shimmering guitars, melodies and dark atmospheres.

Their debut “Móðurástin” is available now in pre-order on CD, 2xLP vinyl and as a 2CD hardcover artbook and can be ordered right here.

The bonus CD of the 2CD set features 8 tracks: “Aska” (Analog Ashes Remix by NightStalker), “Hyldýpi” (Epic Abyss Remix by Carsten Altena), “Nátthagi” (Andvökunætur Remix by Legend), “Hvíla” (Final Rest Remix by Germ), “Hreggur” (Drowning Remix by Heljarmadr), “Móðurástin” (Mother’s Milk Remix by Eddie Risdal), “Kul” (Nóttin er svo löng Remix by Tor R. Stavenes) and “Dulsmál” (Nighttime Remix by Ben Pakarinen).

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Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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