Svarte Greiner is the solo nom de plume of Erik Skodvin, one half of Norwegian post-classical duo Deaf Center and operator of the fantastic Miasmah label. Man Bird Dress is a new, absurdly limited 12†EP released by US label SMTG ahead of Skodvin’ second full-length Kappe (due on Type later this year). Side A is completely taken up by Man, which builds from clattering found-sound percussion into an ominous multifaceted buzz populated by bowed objects and intricately woven harmonics, buried deep within which is a plodding, doom-laden melody. It’s more abstract than his debut Knive, but more structured than the minimalist feedback drones of last year’ Penpals Forever cassette, and seems to be opening a whole new chapter in the Svarte Greiner biography.
Side B opens with Bird, a track that brings to the fore the film score element that has always been central to Skodvin’ work. Although exactly what kind of film this might be the soundtrack to is a question best not thought about to deeply; with its morbid field recordings and sinister, ebbing strings, Bird is by far the most frightening Svarte Greiner has sounded to date.
Closing track Dress is a live recording made in July last year, and is a (relative) breath of fresh air after the suffocating atmosphere of Bird. It’s no walk in the park, though. Rather, Skodvin buries the track deep in the flesh of the earth, crafting a thick, subterranean drone wreathed in acrid tendrils of feedback smoke.
Each of the 31 minutes of Man Bird Dress positively bleeds menace. Skodvin seems to be traveling an ever-darkening path; the thought of where he might go after this is enough to give anyone chills.
Adam D Mills
