orsa - Mnemosyne

April 30, 2022

orsa - Mnemosyne

A sonic isotherm called the tropopause best describes this above worldly composition by orsa. This is the place clouds reach to, the boundary of stable temperatures where Mnemosyne holds in aural flight. We hear the turbulence of string and wind instruments and then mesmerizing droning bliss. Orsa dances in the in between of troposphere and stratosphere, dipping into cacophonous depths the soaring into peaceful glide. Then Mnemosyne remains steady as the atmosphere gently shifts. Two artists momentarily merge thoughts and consciousness becomes the center, the physical world is experienced through a window. Their stability within the tropopause is steadfast and brilliant. Sonic deviations into calm or chaotic, and then the wisdom forged beauty of letting it all come to them.

Maria Dybbroe and Alfred Lykke are the creative duo making up the project orsa. This is their debut album, a place of juxtaposed sonic shapes woven into a slipstream of magnificent fluidity. Feelings derived from listening to Mnemosyne are like interchanged snippets from life cycles of cumulus clouds. We build foundations in thought, strike lighting, poke our conscious heads above the tropopause, and diminish into the molecular expanse. Mnemosyne includes fourteen selections, with the longest just over four minutes. The astounding diversity can be heard both within single tracks and the selections themselves. The alto saxophone of Maria Dybbroe takes on so many guises. Sun drenched days into slow and humid nights, to apocalyptic calls to run from exploding meteors. Technique fueled by loved influences, then abilities reaching out like evoluntionary quest for the stars. Alfred Lykke's guitar transcends strings and shape. Melodic harmonies melting in the radiant energy of stars, before dissolving, their metamorphosis is an aural thing of beauty. Darting away like a row of birds on long electric wires, each takeoff causing a micro vibration amplified through time. Both Maria and Alfred have all the experience to push past the threshold of sonic isotherms, but they always hold listening conscious in love and respect.

Released on Barefoot Records out of Copenhagen, Denmark. This is a 10" swirled grey vinyl release. The inner sleeve in full color on heavy weight card stock. Cover design by Julie Linder Hessellund, mixed and mastered by Jens Ramon & John Fomsgaard respectively. Alfred Lykke and Maria Dybbroe have set a very lofty bar for orsa. Exciting to see where they will find solace together again of if this is the only moment they will hold in their creative prowess.