Bleep

After the release of his exceptional first orchestral piece — Gruidés for Demdike Stare’s DDS imprint — Sunn O)))’s Stephen O’Malley spruces up his portfolio even further. French multidisciplinary label Shelter Press are releasing Eternelle Idole, the soundtrack O’Malley composed for the eponymous ice skating piece choreographed by Paris-based Gisèle Vienne. Recorded between Brest, Seattle, and Rotterdam, the arrangements span over six themes, and include the contributions of some familiar collaborators such as Steve Moore, Daniel O’Sullivan and Randall Dunn, while Jesse Sykes accounts for the wraithlike vocals. The dissonant modular synths mimic the piece’s tension, and the sound of the skates carving their vats in the ice gives the recording an almost sculptural feel.