Peder Simonsen & Jo David Meyer Lysne: Spektralmaskin

Strap yourselves in, spectral travelers, for a journey into the sonic labyrinth that is Peder Simonsen and Jo David Meyer Lysne's Spektralmaskin. This album is not background music for folding laundry. Simonsen and Lysne weave a tapestry of sound that is both unsettling and strangely beautiful. Imagine a haunted music box possessed by a playful but melancholic ghost.

Per the press release: "(The word spektralmaskin, Norwegian for 'spectral machine,' is Lysne and Simonsen's attempt to encapsulate the e-bow as a machine trained on material that is 'spectral,' referring to harmonic spectrum.)"

There is a playful darkness to this production. It is the kind of album that may induce one to listen with the lights low, but not out of fear—more out of a desire to see if the music conjures any spectral companions in the room. The musicians merge an unorthodox array of instruments and sound-generating devices, amid cosmic manipulations, adding to the extraterrestrial soundscapes.

The opening track, "I," sets the tone with a slow drizzle of pitches atop minimalist tonalities, gradually building into a mechanical whir that feels like the soundtrack to a robot's dream. As the album progresses, the interplay between the instruments becomes more intricate, with each track revealing new facets and subtle surprises. It is like peeling an onion, but one gets a sense of awe and wonder instead of tears. However, the respective instruments seamlessly meld together within an expansive dark horizon, yet projects warmth. Listening to this album is like wandering through a surreal landscape where the laws of physics are just suggestions. Track "III" is a standout moment on the album, displaying the duo's ability to create immersive and evocative soundscapes via Lysne's ringing guitar harmonics and droning extended notes, tinted by percussionist Ingar Zach's delicate mallet hits. It is a piece that invites the listener to close their eyes and let their imagination run wild.

If you are a fan of the hauntologically beautiful, the delightfully weird, or want to impress your friends with your knowledge of adventurous Nordic soundscapes, then Spektralmaskin is for you. Just be prepared for the possibility that the music might linger long after the album ends, leaving you with the feeling that you are not alone.