Larsen - SeieS - CD

Following Larsen's critically and (relatively) commercially successful full length Play on Important we bring you SeieS. This full length is housed in a deluxe Important Records cardboard gatefold sleeve printed on matte paper to look almost as good as it sounds.

We have no idea what the title of the new Larsen album means. Things concerning these four from Turin, Italy are always kind of elusive, anyways. SeieS is Larsen's fifth full length and work on it began when they were recording Play for Important. However, where Play was Larsen's most orchestrated ambient work so far, SeieS tends to be quite a bit more song oriented. If the palindrome title suggests that this is an album with two opposite souls, then the truth lies in the albums dichotomized sounds. Tracks like The Snow, Haula and Marzia are Larsen's most sinister (and recent) compositions, disturbing soundscapes that would fit very well a David Lynch movie. Marzia catches Larsen experimenting with slow industrial-dub rhythm, side to side with the master of gloomy ambient and soundtracks Brian Williams a.k.a Lustmord.

The remaining tracks of SeieS were the first recorded for this album and, conversely, sport light and releasing moods within the "classical" droning sound of the band. These tracks feature female vocals thanks to the the ex-Swans chanteuse Jarboe. Also outstanding on SeieS is the work of Larsen's beloved cello player and long time collaborator Julia Kent (of Antony and The Johnsons), contributing substantially to Larsen's hypnotizing sound.

BIO

LARSEN was formed in 1993 in Torino, Italy. A debut album, No Arms, No Legs: Identification Problems produced by Martin Bisi (Brian Eno, Sonic Youth, White Zombie, Swans, Dresden Dolls and many many others) was released in 1997. Their second album REVER was produced by Michael Gira (Swans, Angels Of Light) and came out in 2002 on Gira’s Young God label, garnering them considerable critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. England prestigious music journal The Wire said: "...they center their songs around the dynamics of multiple guitars, which may erupt in buzzsaw staccato and then glide into sublime arpeggiated chords...."

Despite pursuing a self-imposed professional anonymity Larsen have toured Europe extensively, appearing on bills with Neurosis, Breach and Crash Worship, Ulan Bator, Unsane, Michael Gira, My Cat Is An Alien, Allun, Ronin and The Living Jarboe, Einsturzende Neubauten . Additionally, they have worked collectively or with their side project people as Joseph Budenholzer's Backworld, Damo Suzuki, Lydia Lunch, Coil/Black Sun Production, Sikhara and HR Giger. The group’s soundtrack work to Winsor McCay’s animated films, Cartoanimalettimatti, won a “Best of Show” award at the Harlock/Rimusicazioni Festival in Italy.