After over three years in the works, Talvekoidik has finished his sophomore release for HANDS. And, other than the well-received “Negotiate the Distance”, this is not an eclectic collection of ideas, but follows a strict musical formula: An expressive contrast of glossy, somber electronica and emotional piano lines and string melodies – with the occasional crisp beat thrown in for good measure. Ambitious sound design spawns sparse, yet effective details, and the trip to Spitzbergen turns out to be a beautiful and heartfelt journey!
Talvekoidik is known to serve as the individual, emotional expression of Kai, aka one half of HANDS act S.K.E.T., now embarking to the arctic island of Spitzbergen: The album is constantly playing with a cinematic atmosphere; the single tracks develop strongly instead of dwelling in ambience, and there is always a tense antagonism of sheer beauty and sinister undertones. From the calm, clear tones of “Inner Peace” and the downbeats of “Rising the Tension” to the bass-heavy “That’s my Desire”, from the playful vibe of “Falcon Eyes” to the Burial-style crackle of “Nordlicht”, there’s not much time for digression. The title track is full-on big screen sound with a vaguely Celtic note, ethereal vocals deep in the mix and a drum’n’bass finale, while “Drift Ice Whisper” sports the ingenious idea to drown the middle part of the track under a heap of white noise, thus recreating the impression of actual drift ice. “Expedition Arctic” closes the journey on a somewhat upbeat note – and leaves the listener ultimately satisfied with these eight concisely laid out pieces of electronic vs. semi-acoustic beauty!
Released November 2015 on Hands.
Track Listing:
01 Inner Peace
02 Rising the Tension
03 That’s My Desire
04 Falcon Eyes
05 Nordlicht
06 Spitzbergen
07 Drift Ice Whisper
08 Expedition Arctic
English