BIOSPHERE

The Senja in question is a remote Norwegian island from where the field recordings on this atmospheric long-player originate from, mostly gathered between 2015 and 2018 and arranged into unnerving soundscapes.

Barely accompanied by former Bel Canto and Norway Grammy-winner Geir Jenssen's minimal waveforms and drones, most tracks involve extracts of rainfall, riverflow, wildlife or howling wind, all demonstrating just how bleak and beautiful the arctic regions of northern Scandinavia can be - providing you are in the comfort of your own home with headphones on. In line with other Biosphere recordings of late, its minimalism is its strength.

Strandby only deviates from the ambient formula with its bleeping backdrop that recalls some of Ryuichi Sakamoto's more recent excursions. A labour of love, Jenssen might not be this generation's Chris Watson with commissions for Attenborough specials but his ear for real-life soundtracking is unrivalled and a testament to the landscape in which he works.

Paul PLEDGER
25/07/2019