Though initially launched as an ambient musical project at Roadburn in 2015, BardSpec has now morphed into a full band, led by Enslaved guitarist Ivar Bjørnson and joined by Steve Austin (Today is the Day) on guitars/effects, David Hall presenting the live visual aspect of the project, with the layout created by Josh Graham (Soundgarden, Neurosis, IIVII.) Hydrogen is the bands debut album for By Norse, and features six mostly lengthy tracks steeped in psychedelic space rock & ambient sounds. Drawing inspiration from vintage Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schultze, and even a bit of Godflesh, BardSpec are as far removed from Enslaved and Today is the Day as you can possibly get. Much of what's on display here is hypnotic, entrancing, and hallucinatory, with sweeping guitar & synth effects creating an undulating miasma of sounds that instantly sinks into your senses and refuses to let go. "Bone" features some sitar-like passages mixing with the synth loops, while "Fire-tongue" builds with ominous menace as the layers of guitars, effects, and percussion creep with intensity. Fans of early Tangerine Dream, and even Pink Floyd, will love the exploratory yet disturbing sounds of the futuristic "Gamma", while the brighter "Salt" tops the 12-minute mark and offers up plenty of blipping percussive & synth loops to go along with dreamy guitar effects.
Not metal in any shape or form, but 50+ minutes of some fascinating sounds from folks who we wouldn't normally expect this type of music from. Well worth a listen for those who gravitate towards ambient and space rock music.
Track Listing
1. Intro Deposition 01:56
2. Bone 09:51
3. Fire-tongue 10:33
4. Gamma 10:40
5. Salt 12:24
6. Teeth 08:54
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