Album Notes

This is Erik Wøllo's 11th. album and and with this album he again offers a wide selection of exciting electronic musical moods. Music that is both dark and light, near and far away, all the time with a high sensibility on suggestive minimalist qualities, that leave much open to the imagination. It contains 15 pieces of music that range from slow drifting snowy landscapes, to more intense grooves with tastefully use of melodic patterns and sequenzes.
A highly personal musical world of rich, vibrant textures and rhythmic pulses, gently melodic journeys through soundscapes of synthesizer sound. Erik Wøllo has been working as a full time composer in Norway since 1980, and on this album there are also a few tracks he made for TV documentary films from polar expeditions. Some tracks were also used as background music for the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, 2002.
Electronic, ambient "polar" music! An imaginary expedition to unknown, yet undiscovered landscapes!
Press information


Recently, many excellent electronic music-CD’s are released but every now and then one comes out that really does something to you and leaves you with a great feeling. Music that grabs you by the throat, music to hear over and over again. Erik Wøllo’s "The Polar Drones" is one of those albums. In his long career, this Norwegian ambient-artist has created many, well respected albums and gave fine concerts.
"The Polar Drones" contains very beautifully constructed pieces of music that form a mixture between slowly drifting images of icy landscapes, intriguing rhythms and simple but innovative sequences. "Expedition" is a perfect example: it reflects the intelligent musical reflections of Erik’s fellow-countryman Geir Jenssen (Biosphere) but has a more lively approach to it through the use of rhythms. Brilliant sequences are put into pieces like "Soft Machine", "Pulsar" and "The Return of the Sun".
Sometimes, the music gets darker as in "Polar Drone 2", "Eyes Of The Horizon" and "Farewell" and the percussion in "The Struggle" reminds of Steve Roach. The highlight of the album is "Glacier Blue" with a great atmosphere, great rhythms and great use of a female vocal.
If there exists something like "Polar music", "The Polar Drones" is it!
Paul Rijkens


Small things are perfectly formed. This could be said of music by Erik Wøllo. The 15 tracks on The Polar Drones (69'25"), his 11th album, are minute yet impeccably executed in exacting flair. In the span of two to five minutes each of these miniatures offers a broad range in mood and music - from brisk grooves and penetrating rhythms to crystalline dreamscapes and delicate starlit melodies - The Polar Drones easily moves thematically through gleaming glacial panoramas on out into the Arctic winter's long dark night.
Most of the tracks here exist as individual statements, but some have been strung together through interesting cross fades and transitions.
"Pulsar" (4'50") opens cold with cascading interlocked sequencer tones beneath a ribbon of luminous swirling effects.
"The Return of the Sun" (7'29") begins in much the same way, but quickly evolves into a weighty tour across a frozen landscape inhabited by icy piano-like tones and undulating bass lines.
"Distant Sun Rays" (2'51") moves slowly as deep churning drones slide beneath Wøllo's breathing guitar and synth pads.
Equally beautiful and arresting is the concluding track "Farewell" (4'08") - euphonic in its drift beneath the circling star trails and shining auroras of the polar regions.
Other tracks hint at Drum 'n Bass, Trance and World Music influences - all rising out of Wøllo's Contemporary Instrumental stylings.
A real tonic in the themes, Wøllo's music does not lose its power to familiarity.
There is a majestic quality to The Polar Drones - a harmony within its spirituality, development and design. Whether he is describing the bareness of a vast tundral landscape or the complexity of an individual snowflake - Erik Wøllo offers incredible insight into the world through the infinite perspectives of music.
Chuck van Zyl / Star's End