UnKnown/White Vinyl/40pp Booklet

Description

The Swiss composer and sound artist Rolf Gisler returns to Hallow Ground with his second album, DarkSonicTales. Released four years after his debut album, 'UnKnown' is as diverse as its predecessor, but richer in contrasts. The five tracks highlight Gisler’s mastery and ease, both in the small and the large, combining rigorous minimalism and feverish post-rock throughout an album that makes use of field recordings and acoustic and electronic instruments. 'UnKnown' is the result of life changes, which it reflects through constantly evolving sounds and atmospheres. This DarkSonicTales album is once again a masterful exercise in open musical storytelling - an ode to adventure into the unknown. Once again, Gisler worked with a wide range of instruments and used unconventional techniques. “Ellipsis (Origin)” combines kalimba melodies and Alpine horn drones. The title track draws inspiration from the sounds of water from the shower falling on its glass door, recorded with a piezo sensor. Some pieces, like “TrainStation”, use conventional setups including guitar, bass and drums in unusual ways, and most of them rely on field recordings. Throughout the album, you will hear a creaking door, car wheels on wet asphalt, the soundscape of Lucerne central station on a lively Saturday evening, and much more. The final track, “Drain”, is even entirely based on recordings made in a storm drain after heavy rain. This track illustrates the way 'UnKnown' draws its wonders from the banality of everyday life. By transforming his sonic material through digital manipulation and enriching it with acoustic sounds, this album speaks to the beauty of getting lost along the way.