'Liminal Animals was written and arranged by Ole Alexander Halstensgård, Kristoffer Rygg, and Jørn H. Sværen, mixed by Anders Møller at Subsonic Society, mastered by Vegard Sleipnes, and performed by Halstensgård, Rygg and Sværen with Stian Westerhus (guitar, bass, strings and backing vocals), Ivar Thormodsæter (drums), Anders Møller (percussion and choir), and with special guests Nils Petter Molvær (trumpet), Sara Khorami (choir), Astra Eida Rygh (choir), Sisi Sumbundu (choir) and Torgeir Waldemar Engen (choir).
The album was recorded and produced at Lupercal in the Old Town, Oslo. Additional recordings were done in Pitch Black Star Spangled Studio, same city, different location.
The cover art features The Senseless Seven, a 1911 drawing by Austin Osman Spare. Design by Paschalis Zervas, + wolframgrafik, Athens.'
- via Bandcamp
Just thought I'd shoutout Ulver's latest release (November 2024), the first album without their longtime keyboard player Tore Ylwizaker, who passed away in August of 2024. From what I can tell, the album had been in the making for a couple years, but it never featured Ylwizaker, who was pursuing other projects. 'Liminal Animals' is a continuation of their further exploration of electronic driven pop, and their diverse continuation of experimenting in styles, from the black metal/folk elements they started from. I mostly posted this because I think "Hollywood Babylon" might be my favorite Ulver track ever made; without knowing the bands intentions behind the song (I'm guessing the obvious leaning more on the cynical side), it works as both a rah-rah anthem and a pointed criticism that I think few bands/songs have encapsulated -- even if unintended. All the more that it is wrapped up in a glamourous/commercialized sheen in contrast to the subject matter of the song.
