V/A – Pattern Abuse Compilation 2 – Nordic Ambient

It may be the cold climate and long, dark winters. The somewhat introvert temperament. Or their history of design, storytelling and melancholy music.
Whatever the explanation, the Nordic countries seem to be perfectly suited for the contemplative, delicate nature of ambient music.
The latest compilation from Danish label Pattern Abuse showcases just this. Featuring 11 tracks by 11 different artists from Denmark and Sweden, the compilation serves as an introduction to Nordic ambient.
While sharing a common dark and storytelling feel, each track has its own style and personality. From the melodic opener Vuggevise (meaning Lullaby) by the just 19 year old Boding to the haunting, somewhat disturbing soundscapes of Øo by M422 and Objects in the Sky by Asynkron. Liquido’s track Scaffolding is an abstract piece of musique concrete, while Swedish Ljudvägg closes the compilation on yet a melodic note with a sweet piano composition. Tender and fragile.
Jacob Bogh, head of the Pattern Abuse label selected the tracks for the compilation and has this to say about the direction:
“I’m really interested in exploring the area between what we perceive as “just a sequence of sounds” and what we perceive as “music”.
Exploring that very fine line will tell us something about what constitutes music. And of course, also challenge us as listeners. Because the answer is really, that music it is in the mind of the listener. No sounds actually hold meaning in themselves – sense is given by the listener. So exploring that fine line between “just sounds” and “music” is a question of exploring and challenging our ability to create meaning of sounds.
The tracks chosen for this compilation all explore this territory. Some in more, some in less obvious ways. But they all push us towards contemplating how sounds create meaning and turn into music.
For me, the common ground for the tracks in this compilation is that they are all story telling. They each have a unique way of creating mental images.
And the collection of tracks on this compilation is a demonstration of the variation that exists within ambient music. The genre is still evolving and exploring new sonic territories.”
A few words on each track and why they were chosen:
Boding – Vuggevise:
I chose to open the compilation with this track because it absolutely blew me away, when I first heard it. And it continues to do so. Such a simple, melancholy melody, with a dusty sound to support it. Boding will be releasing more material on Pattern Abuse in 2019.
Inuti – Gränsdragning:
This track sits perfectly between abstract and repetitive, to create a meditative state. Somehow, the different loops are not at all in synch, but at the same time sit perfectly together. Also here, with a production that sounds almost rusty. Like the track was made in an abandoned factory. Quite an addictive track, I think.
Inuti is also a brilliant visual artist, and created the cover art for the compilation.
M422 – Øo:
Slightly twisted. Like an audio horror film. Great sound design. Music should always make you feel something, and this one definitely does that.
And like the previous track, it seems the different sounds are not at all synched, though fit perfectly together.
Qloo – Oh:
More of a dreamy soundscape. The melody is there, but hazy, behind layers of clouds. Like a dream, you can never quite catch a hold of it. And like a dream, as soon as you begin to, it switches up and takes you to a new place.
Plus, this track reminds me of Burial.
Jack Rock – Atmofling:
A short and sweet little melodic piece, like a breaker or an intermission. It explores the relation between the atonal and the harmonic in a nice way.
Cedric Elisabeth – Horizon:
It’s a cliché, but this track is a bit of a journey. For me it creates mental images of going through a jungle. First in the darkness, but the arriving to a clearing, where there is light. But always with a mysterious feel.
Liquido – Scaffolding:
My own track on the compilation is completely built out of field recordings. It’s my own take on the mentioned interest in exploring the border between “music” and “a bunch of sounds”.
The high pitched drone going through the track is the ringing of a scaffolding, but actually pitched down. At normal speed, the original sound is above human hearing range. It fascinates me that we go around the world, and there are all these sounds above or below what we can hear, surrounding us, but invisible. Like ghosts.
Claus Poulsen – The Ambient Bath:
Conceptually, I think this is similar to my own contribution in that it is a narrative of different sounds. Not much repetition. It seems the lack of repetition forces the listener to be a bit more attentive. You can’t get lazy as a listener, because you never know what’s going to happen. That’s what creates the story for me.
Asynkron – Objects in the Sky:
Yet another slightly disturbing and scary track. It fascinates me that sounds can create this kind of discomfort. And like with horror movies, it fascinates me that it is so enjoyable to feel this kind of discomfort.
Jens Paldam – Tinsel:
Moving away from the scary, we are now in a sort of magical and mysterious fantasy land. This track reminds me of the old compositions of Raymond Scott. Partly, perhaps, because it is made on and old Buchla system and has that vintage feel. But also because of the nice little melody.
At the same time, the background sounds give a feel that all isn’t quite as should be in fantasy wonderland. We can try to ignore the darkness, but it will always be there. In a David Lynch sort of way.
Ljudvägg – Taktlöshet:
Translated, this means “indiscretion”. A piano composition about being socially awkward.
There is a sort of resigned disheartedness to the song. Delicate and fragile. But at the same time, not quite sadness. There seems to be a bit of hope – or in some way a feeling, that music can cure a heavy heart.
Very elegant communication by Ljudvägg I think, and in the context of this compilation, a beautiful way to close things off.