German post-rock ensemble Glen has gone through quite a few line-ups, with guitarists Wilhelm Stegmeier and Eleni Ampelakiotou as the core duo since their inception in 2017. Their latest album is called It Was A Bright Cold Day In April,... - yes, that's from first line of George Orwell's dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four and the five piece suite ends with a track named after the second part of that sentence - ... and the clocks were striking thirteen. The music is draped in ominous darkness, taking it slow to lure the listener into a vortex with swirling guitars, gnarly shimmering keyboards, and dense percussion.
They allow each lengthy track to run its course, with only shifts in volume offering some respite. It is a wordless warning about democratic values being in serious jeopardy. Trying to make it all go away be doing drugs (Lotosesser), when the powers that are resorting to violence to have their way (Brute Force) or even in a more devilish scheme are offering false hope for a brighter future (Sublime), in the end all those efforts might be futile.
It is a towering Gesamtkunstwerk that should be enjoyed as a whole. The two bonus tracks that were added to this release don't add much to it, but since they sound a bit lighter it makes coming up for air after the main event a little easier.
Glen:
Wilhelm Stegmeier: guitar
Eleni Ampelakiotou: guitar
Roland Feinäugle: bass
Achim Färber: drums
Guest musicians:
Kriton Beyer: daxophone
Norbert Stammberger: soprano and baritone saxophone
It Was A Bright Cold Day In April,... will be released on February 20 via Kapitän Platte (coloured vinyl, vinyl, CD, digital).
Tracks:- Frenzy
- Lotosesser
- Brute Force
- Sublime
- ... and the clocks were striking thirteen
- Zugzwang (Bonus)
- Il Ricordo (Bonus)
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