We Speak Music
Polevaulter confront and seduce with quartet of new disturbed dance-punk bangers ‘Descending’
Abrasive, inviting. Northern antagonists Polevaulter are designed to confront and seduce, to challenge then persuade.
Residing in the vibrant Leeds community, the trio make a certain noise. Abrasive in its immediacy, then enticing, competing human and electronic rhythms shake you into submission. Rich baritone vocals lure you with defeated optimism and narrative fantasy. Subhuman lows and the uncanny highs prick at your senses. Every body of work has been crafted by the band directly, carefully fermented until release. Welcome aboard, we’re all going down with the ship.
‘Serrated art-punk at its most perilous and electrified’ – BPMNY
‘An intoxicating and exhilarating experience’ – Bizzarre
The tech-no-wave three piece have taken their wears to the far end of the continent, with appearances at Left Of The Dial 2024 and multiple jaunts as far as Helsinki and Toulouse, they have deepened their synthetic roots into the European underground. Multiple sell out printings of acclaimed EPs ‘Content’ and ‘MOVE’ and the seismic debut album ‘Hang Wave’ have taken them to a new crest, now they are ready to dive deeper with ‘Descending’, a quartet of disturbed dance-punk bangers.
On the new EP, Polevaulter frontman Jon Franz said, “’Descending’ is our most coheshive and controlled EP, and also the most raw and direct. We wanted to reach people immediately, give them something to quickly digest and then say exactly what we wanted to say. The vocals start quick in each song. It progresses down through the EP into an anxious rave, the themes about being lied to all your lives and believing what you are told coming from power down to the working people. It’s our darkest and danciest EP I think.”
We Speak Music
Christian Balvig releases gorgeous new album ‘Find And You Will Seek’ in collaboration with Ensemble Hermes.
Acclaimed composer and arranger Christian Balvig is known for his work with an array of artists and bands like Jade, Efterklang, Lowly, When Saints Go Machine and Mew, as well as his work with some of the most acclaimed orchestras like Royal Northern Sinfonia (BBC Proms), The Royal Danish Orchestra, Copenhagen Phil, London Contemporary Orchestra, The Danish Radio Broadcast Orchestra and The Norwegian Wind Ensemble.
The cinematic sound on his new album might echo Balvig’s work in the world of film and TV music. Scoring the 2025 Oscar shortlisted short movie ‘Eternal Father’ and the Danish hit series ‘Cry Wolf’ (Ulven Kommer), which has been shown on television in more than 30 countries around the globe, including Channel 4 in the UK. He was also nominated for a Harpa award for ‘Best score’ last year at the Berlinale for ‘The Son and the Moon (Min Arv Bor I Dig)’.
Balvig’s new album, ‘Find And You Will Seek’, backed by Danish string group Ensemble Hermes, grew organically out of this background of experiences and is music that appeals to listeners seeking original, immersive music with space for reflection and contemplation.
‘Find And You Will Seek’ is a collection of chamber works that explore the combination of piano and strings in new ways. Recent single ‘The BirdSuite II – Praesentia’ is part of a 3-part Suite running throughout the record, written and performed on a custom made “Keybird” piano, which is an una-corda (one string pr note) piano that gives a more subtle and intimate sound. On top of it is a lush and emotional string ensemble arrangement with Ensemble Hermes in multiple layers fluctuating in and out of the keybird piano.
Balvig’s second single from the record is ‘What Happened To The World’, an ultra transparent neo-classical inspired piece, with slow melodic structures, a simple chord progression and emotional performance starting with a floating viola solo. It is written from the feeling that the world sometimes goes backwards, and you feel left on the platform wanting to take the train in a different direction.
From film music inspired pieces to experimental chamber music over piano concerto inspired movements, to more neo-classical productions with almost orchestral sounding dubs of strings, ‘Find And You Will Seek’ flows with emotions and lush sound worlds, always with a tangible organic texture.
Find Christian Balvig and Ensemble Hermes on tour in Denmark:
27.5 Ansgars Kirke (Odense)
28.5 Folkegaarden Festival (Aalborg)
29.5 Gnisten (Ry)
30.5 Musikhuset (Aarhus)
1.6 Basement (Copenhagen)
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