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Sven Grünberg — Hingus
(Bureau B BB241, 1981/2016, CD/LP)

Sven Grünberg — Om
(Boheme CDBMR 009167, 1988/2000, CD)

Hingus Cover artOm Cover art

During and after Estonian composer Sven Grünberg's tenure with Mess, he made a series of recordings that found their way to these two albums, which were originally archive recordings released on Russian label Melodiya. These carry Grünberg's compositions into a more ardently electronic framework, and away from the more prog-rock stylings of his former band. You can almost see this transition, from the organ-heavy style of Mess to the cosmic electronics of his 80s music, on the first of these two titles, Hingus. The album covers music from 1978-80 and shares some crossover with the Mess EP of 1980, except the title track here is a sidelong composition in four parts. It mixes electronics, organ, and harp sounds to obtain a vibe that starts out with very Mess-like organ, but gradually adds more electronics throughout the suite. The material that made up the second side of the LP includes a short synth piece entitled "Journey" and the nearly 18-minute "Flower of Light," a really nice Vangelis-type space piece with lots of twinkling synthesizers and bubbling effects. Om covers the period after Hingus through 1987 and begins with the fifth part of "Hingus (Breath)," very much in the vein of the original composition. However, "Reflections" brings in percussion and sequencers to provide a lazy beat over which Grünberg lays down synth patches and some occasional soloing, and the music verges very symphonic by the end. The final tracks, "Parting" and "Om," also have orchestral / symphonic moments, dynamic suites that swell occasionally into big thunderous crescendos or just plain leap out at you from the speakers. These are perhaps the finest achievements on both albums, experimental works of electronic music that leave behind the blatant new-age-like feel of some of the previous material, into strange territory where every moment is a surprise. Both are recommended to fans of 70s electronic music.

by Mike McLatchey, Published 2001-03-01

Estonian soundtrack composer Sven Grünberg began his career while still a music student in 1974 by founding the progressive rock band Mess. After the band broke up he started exploring the field of electronic ambient music, and he was the first musician in Estonia to use a synthesizer. Sven composed and recorded his first solo album Hingus between 1978 and 1980, releasing it on vinyl in 1981. I purchased my vinyl copy in 1983 and have longed for it to be released on CD. The vinyl album was reissued multiple times in the 80s on the Russian label Melodiya and also resissued on CD by the Russian label Boheme Music in 2000. Now Bureau B’s reissue is the first by a Western label. In the late 70s not much Western music made it through the Iron Curtain, so Sven relied more on his own creativity for Hingus (Breath) than being overly influenced by the Berlin School. Sven used various electronic instruments, some built by Estonians Härmo Härm and Koit Saarmäe (HH Synthesizer, HH Percussion Synth, and KS Synthesizer). He also played a Selmer Clavioline, an ARP Omni, and a Logan String Melody. Side One, now the first four tracks, contains the four parts of “Hingus.” There are no driving sequencers or rhythm, just minimal ambiance with tons of reverb, organ, synths, and abstract sounds. The other two tracks, which were on Side Two, “Teekond” and “Valgusois” are not quite as abstract. “Teekond” has a melody line and a slow beat, still with tons of reverb, electronic swells that make it difficult to identify the sound source, and wordless vocals. “Valgusois” has cascading notes, mono synths, sounds of wind and birds, and a beat that enters in the final three minutes. The overall sense you get from this album is the music could have been a soundtrack for an Eastern European sci-fi movie. And to top everything off, the cover art is a photo of the Sombrero Galaxy that greatly contributes to the cosmic ambiance of Hingus.

by Henry Schneider, Published 2017-05-10

Filed under: Reissues, Issue 21, 2016 releases, 1981 recordings, 2000 releases, 1988 recordings

Related artist(s): Sven Grünberg

More info
http://svengruenberg.bandcamp.com/album/hingus

 

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