Exposé Online banner

Exposé Online

Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

Reviews

Erik Wøllo — Snow Tides
(Projekt 437, 2026, CD / DL)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2026-03-11

Snow Tides Cover art

Irrespective of the predictions of Punxsutawney Phil, the winter of 2026 has proven to be a more intense season than most — at least in North America, and is probably going to go on a lot longer that we hope. I’m not sure if it’s the same in Fredrikstad, Norway, where Erik Wøllo’s Wintergarden studio is located, but he has most certainly created a fitting musical tribute to the long, cold season with his latest album Snow Tides. Having released around 55 albums since his 1983 debut, he has over time developed a musical style that treats the guitar less like the musical instrument that it is — with its limitations — and more like a paintbrush capable of creating new worlds far beyond the imagination; using six-string electric, guitar synthesizer, Ebow, all manner of analog and digital synthesizers, percussion, and more, he has crafted ten tracks of intense beauty and shimmering light to convey the expanse and grandeur of nature’s power and the stillness and introspection that it can provide the spirit. Regardless of the instrument he’s leading with — piano, keyboard sequences, effected guitar, or other mysterious sounds — one can hear how the stillness and solitude of winter has informed Wøllo’s emotional approach to compositions and arrangements herewithin, never to dazzle the listener with chops or a wow factor, but to convey a feeling or spark an idea that blossoms across the duration of the piece. “Glass Reverie” is one of many where the seed of an idea is presented on guitar, elaborated upon with synthesizers, and ultimately transformed as the listener joins the journey home. Taking a more ambient approach, “Luminara” brings on the feeling of introspection and stillness as a simple piano melody carves out a beautiful and stunning edifice while sympathetic accompaniment builds a new world all around it. With “Astral Travelers” Wøllo makes excellent use of the sequencer, not to dominate, but to add subtle textures to a dreamy wall of wintery whiteness, all slowly emerging. A quick geography lesson: “Jan Mayen” is a tiny island north of the Arctic Circle, midway between Greenland, Iceland, and Norway, though it is part of Norway, and the track here that bears its name is perhaps the most cold, dark, floating ambient piece in Wøllo’s set, slowly shimmering and sparkling as your ship passes by. With a series of dreamy, colorful melodic figures to build upon, the title track slowly blossoms all along the way to its six-plus minute conclusion. Magnificent and powerful, Snow Tides is an expressive set that slowly reveals itself over many listens.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Erik Wøllo

More info
http://projektrecords.bandcamp.com/album/snow-tides

 

What's new

These are the most recent changes made to artists, releases, and articles.