The first album from Bergen’s Espen Sommer Eide under the name Phonophani is remarkable. There’s no two ways about it, this is an essential album. It may be eight years old but sounds fresher than the vast majority of new albums that have come my way.
Phonophani’s self titled debut was first released in 1998 and now it has been reissued with an additional three tracks. Consider these bonuses add up to a sizeable 20 minutes of music (which is of the same quality as the original album), it is well worth repurchasing. From the second “I.F.A.” starts to the time the CD spins down I was captivated. With each listen I found new sounds and textures opening up. Huge segments of the album feel alien; it doesn’t sound like a human made some of this music. At other times Eide’s personality and mortality shine through, the looped acoustic guitar and gently sung vocals on “C” show this more than anywhere else. In contrast “Zurnas” has a gorgeous rhythm not unlike the kind of unorthodox beat that Coil would use. It’s like Eide has tapped into a transmission from another dimension. The off kilter rhythms continue throughout the album; they’re compelling but just weird enough to set you at unease.
It’s not just peculiar beats that Eide uses to great effect; he also uses a range of glitches and almost symphonic swells of sound. “Duration-happiness” makes use of violin type sounds (they could be violins or they could be synthesiser, no details are given for what Eide has used) to create a gentle and melancholic mood. This is another feature of Eide’s music that I fell in love with, his ability to connect emotionally with his audience through sound. The aforementioned “C” is the most obvious example of Eide breaking through due to its conventional instrumentation. More abstract pieces like “Sol” and “Kaliphoni” are just as potent.
It is a beautiful album from all angles; the pieces are composed and played wonderfully, the production is top notch and the sleeve fits the otherworldly feel of the music.The Norwegian government must be adding something magical to the pickled herring. I can’t think of any other reason for so much good music coming from the north. Knowing that I’ve been missing out on it for eight years is annoying but I’m delighted to have heard it. Now it’s time for me to pick through the rest of Eide’s output.
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