Ulver
Ulver (Norwegian for "wolves") is a Norwegian experimental electronic band founded in 1993 by vocalist Kristoffer Rygg. Their early material, such as debut album Bergtatt, was categorised as folklore-influenced black metal. The band has since developed a blend of experimental rock, electronica, ambient, trip hop, symphonic and chamber traditions, noise, progressive and experimental music into their music. In 1997, they release their third album, Nattens madrigal, internationally through German label Century Media. Following issues with the label, Rygg formed Jester Records in 1998.
In 1997, Rygg invited composer and multi-instrumentalist Tore Ylwizaker into the band, and they changed Ulver's direction. Their first album together, Themes from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, drew from classical and avant-garde music and the works of William Blake. Metamorphosis (1999) and Perdition City (2000) experimented with electronic music. In 2000, Jørn H. Sværen joined the band. Since then, the core of Ulver has been Rygg, Ylwizaker and Sværen. In 2009, British multi-instrumentalist Daniel O'Sullivan became the fourth member. Several other musicians were enlisted as supporting and live members. Norwegian musician and producer Ole Alexander Halstensgård has been another prominent band member.
Ulver has performed at Queen Elizabeth Hall (2009), the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet (2010), Teatro Regio di Parma (2013), Labirinto della Masone di Franco Maria Ricci (2017). They held a residency at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter (2018).
The band have sold more than half a million records, been thrice nominated for the Norwegian Grammy Awards, Spellemannsprisen, in different categories, won Album of the Year at the Oslo Awards for Shadows of the Sun in 2008, won the NATT&DAG award for Best Live Act in 2011, and earned a global reputation.
Author and musician Julian Cope said that "Ulver are cataloguing the death of our culture two decades before anyone else has noticed its inevitable demise."
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