Origami Galaktika "Stjernevandring / Eesti Lilled Silmad Süda" Jester Records Trick 013 (2001)
Disc 1 - Stjrnevandring (57:29)
Stjernevandring
(26:31)
Månedans (30:58)
Disc 2 - Eesti Lilled Silmad Süda (52:56)
Rännak
Tähtede Vahel (15:53)
Tähevalgus (10:04)
Punane Kuu (9:48)
Vennad
(17:11)
Origami Galaktika are the most active 'unit' of several dozen under the Origami Republika umbrella, an "open cultural network with 170+ agents operating in 18 countries on 4 continents" with origins in Norway (see http://kunst.no/origami/ for further information). This double CD remasters and reissues 2 of their ambient/loop albums from 1994 and 1996. Six vivid paintings in the insert by Cicille Risåsen complete the package. "Stjernevandring" is 2 tracks at about half an hour apiece. The lapping ocean waves and cold, dark and dense droning undertow of the title track become fully immersive within a few minutes. I am literally sitting on a sound in Norway in the dead of winter and middle of the night watching a relatively calm sea break upon the moorings. Nautical bells appear and by mid track the waves disappear - but they always remain subconsciously - then reappear during a simple but spooky 8 note melody loop. None of the other tracks has such a distinct audible tie to nature but each evokes a certain feeling (I'm unable to translate the Norwegian titles). "Månedans" is next and the feeling is one of ascension and reflection. We steadily climb upwards through the clouds, a constant soft drone being the guiding light. By the 14th minute electronics swirl in then settle into their own respective glide path. A few lone notes near the very end seem to deliver a favorable final judgment. Beautiful. Disc 2 is "Eesti Lilled Silmad Süda" ("Estonian Flowers Eyes Heart") and it has 4 tracks (Journey between the Stars, Starlight, Red Moon, Brothers) in the 10 to 17 minute range. It's just as good if not better with another palette of relaxing sounds: graceful, emotive drones and faint hums, scrapes and rattles, sample loops of what sounds like a train over tracks, a woman reciting text in a foreign tongue, the quiet pitter patter of hand drums, rain stick and some ritualistic vocal moaning. There is no hurry to get anywhere and that's fine by me. In fact, every one of these tracks could be the length of an entire disc, no problem. These albums are quickly becoming some of my favorite recent ambient works, along with Stars of the Lid "Gravitational Pull vs. the Desire for an Aquatic Life" and Zammuto "Solutiore of Stareau" ...
Origami
Galaktika
Jester Records
Where did I get this cd? - promo from Jester.