At first glance and with some mention of Ulver and Cult of Luna in the press release I was sure I was about to be graced with the next big thing in folkish atmospheric black or sludge metal. Yet I quickly discovered this Oslo, Norway collective is purely instrumental atmosphere dictated by the techniques and structures of post-rock. When sailing through their distinctly stoic and cathartic discography of Norwegian tones a theme of distress-and-release was most apparent. They deal in an intentionally cinematic style of atmospheric rock music that, for their first album, relied entirely upon long-winded and very typical guitar performances for direction. On this third release Spurv slice up the overly long movements of ‘Skarntyde’ in favor of shorter motions, more diverse sounds, and greater emotive range.

Before delving into the utility of instrumental music and it’s long-term viability it is important to start by speaking to ‘Myra’ in terms of style and production values. It is an organic sound along the lines of Toundra that feels entirely possible as a live performance. Spurv doesn’t quite ‘rock’ as hard as the sludgier tones of If These Trees Could Talk nor is ‘Myra’ as futuristic or progressive as Aesthesys. In many ways the album expresses as a style that is ‘almost there’ in terms of sheer ideas, but Spurv generally feels honestly delivered than many post-rock projects. Keeping in mind I have very little experience, or great interest, with the post-rock genre outside of it’s use as a soundtrack for sexual encounters or guided meditation, and I’m no expert.

‘Myra’ is not all just background music for the exhausted mind but that might be it’s greatest utility. Cathartic music can serve as useful illusion or horrendous inflammation in times of distress and Spurv offer a modulation between severe-but-relenting showers of somber and hopeful moods throughout ‘Myra’. At the very least you will feel something and hopefully work through it. I think that is both a valuable trip but also a limited-run experience. This is no fault of post-rock or Spurv but rather my own restlessness towards atmospheric instrumental music as an art-form while repeated listening naturally becomes less resonant and more predictable. A ‘lost feeling’ where music devoid of mantra is cast away to make room for greater statements. It is a beautiful and powerful post-rock album but it will simply bounce off me after making a few good dents.

Alt er bra til sitt bruk. 3.0/5.0

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