The Higher Intelligence Agency & Biosphere - Polar Sequences (1996)

Tromso, 70 degrees north, in the Arctic region, in the middle of the most active northern lights zone. In summer time, land of the midnight sun. In winter, total darkness.

In October 1995, as part of the annual Polar Music Festival, Geir Jenssen of Biosphere and Bobby Bird of The Higher Intelligence Agency were commissioned by Nor Concerts to collaborate together on a musical project to take place in Geir's home town of Tromso, Norway. The brief was for them to perform three concerts, using sounds sourced from the area as the basis of the music - the machinery of the local mountain cable lift, the snow, the ice etc...

The performances took place on top of a mountain above Tromso, in a cabin reached by the cable car, in which the audience were transported up the mountain in turn. Critically acclaimed and voted as one of the best all time ambient releases by fans @ hyperreal.org, Polar Sequences stands out from other releases in this genre in being taken from one unedited live performance. You have to hear this. You just have to.

I've just listened to this again and it really is mind-blowing stuff. I don't presume you have to be an ambient fan to be able to like/enjoy this. It's that freggling good!

Tracks
1. Cimmerian Shaft (13:16)
2. Snapshot Survey (8:22)
3. White Lightning (10:13)
4. Countdown to Darkness (6:21)
5. Corona (9:56)
6. Meltwater (9:18)

Total time: 57:14

HIA___Biosphere_Polar_Sequences_256.part1.rar
HIA___Biosphere_Polar_Sequences_256.part2.rar

posted by Paxjorge @ Tuesday, March 14, 2006