Almost unknown Norwegian duo of Rune Sagevik and Jostein Gjelsvik, also known as Pjusk have turned out one of the best ambient electronic albums of the year – continuing a run of spectacular recent releases from 12k. Sart is richly detailed and brims with alien atmospheres. The opener, ‘Tander’ brings together windblown arctic field recordings, desolate street sounds with delicate melodics, whilst submariner radar pings, crackle and scrapings drenched in delay form the basis of the disconcerting sound world of ‘Dur’, intermittently punctured by industrial tools. ‘Vag’ and ‘Rav’ are more tranquil contrasting drones and tone experiments with found sound treatments – with Rod Modell/Deepchord lending sounds to ‘Rav’. Beats are non-existent except for the static-fused pulses of ‘Anelse’, which would not be out of place in the classic pre-IDM, techno-ambient wave of the early 90s. Unlike more overtly ‘experimental’ found sound work, Sart is actually quite traditionally musical in many ways, making the experience more akin to fellow Norwegian veteran Biosphere (R&S/Touch) and the younger duo, Deaf Center (Type). Sart is highly recommended.
