A Winged Victory For The Sullen

Artist: A Winged Victory For The Sullen
Title: A Winged Victory For The Sullen
Record Label: Kranky
Rating: 9.0
It’s a rare moment when an entire album is something of overwhelming beauty. That feeling of when your heart is swelling to the point it might burst is captured exquisitely here. ‘A Winged Victory For The Sullen’ is a new musical venture by Adam Wiltzie and Dustin O’Halloran. Wiltzie has earned his stripes with Stars of the Lid and Sparklehorse, while O’Halloran is an accomplished composer in his own right. The duo approached the recording sessions for this new project by stepping out of their comfort zones and plunging into the unknown while experimenting with grand pianos and string quartets. The recording sessions took the pair to Berlin and Italy, where they constructed the album in churches and 17th Century Villas.

The self titled debut is an album of pure unadulterated splendour. The LP flows like it is soundtracking a beautiful dream. The way the piano and strings combine to transmit an overwhelming celestial mosphere is truly stunning.

The stunning orchestration resembles that of a cinematic tour de force. The albums lush textures and serene ambience would be the perfect musical accompaniment to any leftfield film. This is a voyage built on subtle emotional undertones and majestic soothing tendencies.

Wiltzie has declared that “after almost 20 years of struggling to create interesting ambient drone music, I feel like I have finally figured out what I am doing”. The drone has been replaced with sound of breathtaking grandeur. ‘A Winged Victory For The Sullen’ is an wonderful journey from beginning to end, a truly life affirming record.

Words and Thoughts of Adam Williams