Released on: 6th April 2018
While the instrumentation has changed from pure sound synthesis on Kebus’ previous releases to focus on real voices and more traditional machines like the piano this live EP is an interesting deviation from the upbeat trance that is recognizable as Kebu. With the format changed the indefatigable spirit behind the music has found another outlet to express the awesome layers of harmony and manifest the brilliant colours of nature. In effect you could say that the composer acts as a medium between words not yet formed and human understanding.
Kring havet – Meren ympärillä is in part a synthetic orchestra, with signature Kebu melodies and another part folk music, having organic progressions and a focus of telling stories. Namely about the sea. It was a commission from the people of Kristiinankaupunki, the town of Kebus’ birth, to celebrate the cen-anniversary of Finnish independence from the Russian Empire and the music reflects on such a grand event with its own majesty.
The recording itself is from a performance directly on the sixth of December 2017, exactly one-hundred years since the event and acts as a symbolic monument to the history of the country and yet incorporates sounds of, what can best be described as, the future in the synth work. This EP embodies a rich history and retains the optimism of emancipation while approaching a new and untold future. Not only that but it manages to elevate Kebu from electronic musician to elaborate composer who can write with more in mind than just sound waves and low frequency passes.
Kring havet – Meren ympärillä is an interesting piece not only for its historical context but for its blend of artificially generated sound and natural tones than mix enthusiastically so as to belong together. While it also faithfully adopts a harmonic contrast of tales told through time. Yet it might be unfamiliar territory for fans expecting techno it still resonates with the perpetual aspirations of a great and modern artist.
8/10
