#33 - Ryan & Steve

Supersilent

6

2003

The unclassifiable Supersilent. A Norwegian group of four men (Arve Henriksen, Helge Sten, Ståle Storløkken, Jarle Vespestad) who never rehearse or speak of the music, but instead have improvised the entirety of their musical output. Occasionally referred to as a death/free jazz/electronic group, the sounds emanating from this band are otherworldly and without many aural references. The glorious noises contained within "6" are certainly the best place to begin for those unfamiliar with the group as the forms and structures here are as exciting and dynamic as the band ever is.

For an improvised band without the use of overdubs, Supersilent have created some ecstatic and unbelievable moments of musical telepathy. Many of the numbers on "6" sound structured and predetermined, but their label, the illustrious Rune Grammofon and the members themselves have repeatedly assured us, it's all free baby, it's all free.

When this record first came out, it was positioned and pitched by the label as some sort of grandfather post-rock band, a group with a mindset similar to a Sigur Rós or a Godspeed You! Black Emperor. While the sonics here are occasionally ambient and the songs do stretch for miles, this has far more to do with out- & free-jazz than it does with the (occasionally) numbing plod of a self-righteous post-rock group. This is one of the few records in my collection that has actually captured a rare, sincere moment of transcendence amongst musicians. A pure, musical epiphany if there ever was. -S.R.

At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to withstand this very bare, voiceless record from start to finish. I listened to it for the first time driving home from one of my shows late at night, and as the album progressed I found myself feeling completely free from all my worries and uncertainties. It’s an album that I truly believe works best listened to while performing a quiet and solitary activity – like driving late at night – and if this is done I feel confident in saying the listener’s reward will be great. - Phil