Arild Andersen's Electra was composed for the Spring Theater in Athens
for their production. These "18 Scenes," as they are subtitled,
represent various cues and serial music for the production of Sophocles'
deeply moving classic. Andersen collaborates with both European and
Greek musicians here, among them the great vocalist Savina Yannatou,
guitarist Eivind Aarset, drummer Patrice Héral, and trumpeter Arve
Henriksen. The music is heavily arranged, taut, and spacious. Everything
is understated yet utterly dramatic. Voices, drum programs -- courtesy
of Andersen and Nils Petter Molvær -- brass, electric guitars, chorus,
and solo voices are given direction by Andersen's bass and conducting,
allowing a sort of musical story to emerge that not only informs but
works independently of the dramatic work they accompany. This is spirit
music. Its goes under the radar and slowly, purposefully enters the
listener's unconscious and body, creating a space for impressions
created by the emotions and unconscious. Like Peter Gabriel's score for
The Last Temptation of Christ, the music here suggests more than it
demands. It points ambiguously inward and is seductive by its subtlety.
It's not "jazz," but then, it isn't anything else either, because it
holds so much more inside than mere classification. This is simply a
wondrous piece, darkly haunting, yet utterly beautiful for what it
leaves out as much what is here. Given what Andersen has created here,
the stage production was blessed.
(This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa')
Tracklist :
1 Birth Of The Universe 0:11
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
2 Mourn 5:18
Arco Bass – Arild Andersen
Guitar [E-bone Guitar] – Eivind Aarset
Percussion – Paolo Vinaccia
3 The Big Lie 6:26
Bass, Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Drums [Left Channel] – Paolo Vinaccia
Drums [Right Channel] – Patrice Héral
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
4 Chorus I 4:03
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Tabla [Tablas], Udu, Bass Drum – Patrice Héral
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Vocal] – Savina Yannatou
Voice [Chorus Voice] – Elly-Marina Casdas, Fotini-Niki Grammenou
5 Electra Song Intro 1:35
Bass, Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
6 Electra Song 5:01
Bass – Arild Andersen
Cymbal [Cymbals] – Paolo Vinaccia
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Instruments [Charon], Djembe, Drums – Patrice Héral
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Vocal] – Savina Yannatou
7 Electra Song Outro 2:01
Bass – Arild Andersen
Cymbal [Cymbals] – Paolo Vinaccia
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Instruments [Charon], Djembe, Drums – Patrice Héral
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Vocal] – Savina Yannatou
8 Chorus II 2:43
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Vocal] – Savina Yannatou
Voice [Chorus Voice] – Elly-Marina Casdas, Fotini-Niki Grammenou
9 7th Background 11:01
Bass, Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Drum Programming – Nils Petter Molvær
Drums, Percussion – Paolo Vinaccia
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Tabla [Tablas], Udu – Patrice Héral
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
10 One Note 0:10
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
11 Whispers 3:22
Bass – Arild Andersen
Drums – Paolo Vinaccia
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
12 Divine Command 2:24
Bass, Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
13 Clytemnestra's Entrance 3:24
Bass – Arild Andersen
Drums – Paolo Vinaccia
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Vocal] – Chrysanthi Douzi
14 Loud Sound 0:21
Bass – Arild Andersen
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Percussion – Paolo Vinaccia
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
15 Chorus III 4:12
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Tabla [Tablas], Udu – Patrice Héral
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Vocal] – Savina Yannatou
Voice [Chorus Voice] – Elly-Marina Casdas, Fotini-Niki Grammenou
16 Opening 9:32
Bass, Arco Bass [Arco Bass Loops], Drum Programming – Arild Andersen
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Percussion – Paolo Vinaccia
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Voice, Kalimba [Thumb Piano], Drums, Voice [Voice Percussion] – Patrice Héral
17 Chorus IV 2:24
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Loops [Arco Bass Loops] – Arild Andersen
Tabla [Tablas], Udu, Bass Drum – Patrice Héral
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Vocal] – Savina Yannatou
Voice [Chorus Voice] – Elly-Marina Casdas, Fotini-Niki Grammenou
18 Big Bang 0:32
Bass – Arild Andersen
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Percussion – Paolo Vinaccia
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Bass – Arild Andersen
Credits :
Producer, Composed By [All Compositions], Double Bass, Drum Programming – Arild Andersen
Drum Programming – Nils Petter Molvær
Drums, Percussion – Paolo Vinaccia
Drums, Percussion, Voice – Patrice Héral
Guitar [Guitars] – Eivind Aarset
Lyrics By – Sophocles
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
Vocals [Chorus Vocal] – Elly-Marina Casdas, Fotini-Niki Grammenou
Vocals [Vocal] – Chrysanthi Douzi, Savina Yannatou 
