Arild Anderson Group
Electra
ECM

Recorded as music for a Greek theatrical production of the play, Anderson's music more than stands up on its own. Employing the services of both European and Greek musicians (particularly the mesmerizing vocalist Savina Yannatou), Anderson has created an artistic work that, while heavily arranged, is free floating, spacious, haunting and organically riveting. Combining electric guitars, brass, solo and choral voices into a slowly undulating masterwork, Anderson uses sounds, silence, and whispers to grab the spirit and cause it to cry for relief.

Mixing motifs of middle eastern folk music and Greek Orthodox liturgy, Anderson uses subtlety and dark shadows to suggest, rather than hit you on the head. The spiritual music, foreboding and dramatic, achingly gives relief when Yannatou breathes sighs of agony. Utterly beautiful, wonderously different, it refuses to be background music. This is quiet music that is reaching into your heart. Don't deny yourself the emotions. Listen and see the world differently.


-George W. Harris


Track Listing: Birth of the Universe; Mourn; The Big Lie; Chorus I; Electra Song Intro; Electra Song; Electra Song Outro; Chorus II; 7th Background; One Note; Whispers; Divine Command; Clytemnestr's Entrance; Loud Sound; Chorus III; Opening; Chorus IV; Big Bang.


Personnel: Arve Henriksen: trumpet; Eivind Aarset: guitars; Paolo Vinaccia: drums, percussion; Patrice Héral: drums, percussion, voice; Nils Petter Molvær: drum programming; Savina Yannatou: vocal; Chrysanthi Duuzi: vocal; Elly-Marina Casdas: chorus vocal; Fotini-Niki Grammenou: chorus vocal; Arild Andersen: double-bass, drum programming.