Henrik Summanen - Composer

CD - Two Worlds

Anabasis/Gargrim the Liar - Two Worlds

[Waer016] 19.00EUR

Full Length Jewel Case 2CD

Waer016, released 11th march 2009. Two Worlds is the Waerloga debut of both Anabasis & Gargrim the Liar. Yet it is not right to call this release a split CD as each artist got one CD for their own "world" and release. Both CDs are packed in one Jewel case with great cover/back artwork made by none other than John Howe, famous for his work as the leading artist in Peter Jackson´s Lord of the Rings trilogy and other brilliant illustrations. The music (almost 120 minutes total) of both artists are dark fantasy inspired, cinematic and neoclassical.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Anabasis "The Challenge"

Inspired by a poem by the English poet Robert Browning Anabasis music paint a wonderful story filled with heroism, adventure, darkness and valor. Anabasis is not only inspired by the poem, he also "describe" (in music) personalities and events presented in themes in a Wagnarian way (leit-motives). You will find a hero-theme, traitor theme, stronghold-theme and so forth. They all show up disguised in different tempos and different meters. The music is highly cinematic and instrumental.
Tracklist
01. Title
02. The Challenge
03. Skavedal Tavern
04. Roses and Brimstone
05. Enchanted Forest
06. Chasing Traitors
07. Distant Stronghold
08. Decievers Narration
09. Catacombs
10. Calling the Long Since Lost
11. At the Gates 12. Dirge - End Title

Total Playing time: 57 minutes

Gargrim the Liar "Stories of Long Forgotten"

Inspired by Warhammer fantasy roleplay and other roleplaying games. Most of all one specific campaign which deals with a power struggle among four families and an almost Romeo and Juliet sort of love drama as backdrop. Don´t get that story wrong and confused with cheasy romantic crap as this story is filled with mysterious killings, endless debates in the council halls, dark deep intrigues on many levels and all takes place in the upper class among the nobility. The music on this wonderful CD bare hints of such as Ennio Morricone, Hans Zimmer, Klaus Badelt and other Hollywood composers, but with an own style of instrumental stunning dark fantasy music with lot´s of atmosphere and really good melodies.

Tracklist
01. Preludium
02. Of Noble Blood
03. Left Alone to Die
04. Carmen Ex Miragliano
05. The Story Unfolds
06. Their Fate Sealed
07. Silvano´s Waltz
08. No Way Out
09. Death of a Father
10. Requiem for Miragliano
11. Tilea Forest (Bonus Track)
12. The Pavillion (Bonus Track)

Total Playing time: 60 minutes

Reviews:

TWO WORLDS have two composers sharing the same release: Anabasis & Gargrim the Liar. Rarely does a modern neoclassic album sounding like a "could be" soundtrack by a virtually unknown composer capture my Interest. Almost never. Anabasis and Gargrim the Liar, after I got to finish my first listen of both whole albums, got my interest! I started listening without taking a single glimpse at the musical credits (stories), save for the background of the composers in the press material and the plots told to me by Waerloga Records, which – in a way – enforced my bias. Both these two artists, sharing the same jewel case (one CD each) and great artwork made by John Howe but not much else, are debutants.

Anabasis THE CHALLENGE (CD 1)

Henrik Summanen (Anabasis) is a Swede in his mid 30s working with multimedia at the medieval museum in Stockholm. Classically trained, Henrik have a passion for medieval reenactment, being a founding member of "St Olaus Guild" in Sweden and a member of the international society Company of St George in Switzerland. As it seems he is also working developing experimental and so called modern music at EMS, and with his dark ambient Ahasverus-project. For all you readers that does not know what Dark Ambient is it could be described as sort of a subgenre of ambient music that features often foreboding, ominous, or discordant overtones. That genre seems very diverse and some claim it to be similar to industrial music (how awful!), noise and all sorts of synthesizer and sampling technology in the electronic music genre. It´s obvious to me that Henrik with his work in the dark ambient genre learned to handle sampling technology very well. Mark pointed out already 2005 that soundtrack composers more and more drift away from big real orchestras into samplings of different sorts. Henrik uses his knowledge in dark ambient and combine it with his knowledge in classical music very well.

Henrik Summanen show his qualities as a composer

In this album Anabasis judiciously employs a handful of motifs and it is made like a soundtrack. Anabasis works with structural arrangements which are quite obvious; first we have this simple main theme, basically an unsettling few-note motif which is distinctly string-focused but appearing with brass. The title song starts of sounding a bit too synthetic but soon works towards a very fine theme melody which should find its way into some mainstream film. Henrik works well with brass instruments. The song flows in a superb way.

Skavdedal Tavern seems to use real instruments and is one of the best songs on the album. It´s an obvious "tavern song" with medieval notes. After a while the cue evolves to become dramatic and resembles some fantasy comedy music, but also with a good back and forth composition which create a wonderful picture of the tavern. Great.

One of the more ambient of the tracks are called "Roses and Brimstone" which first after 4 minutes burst out in action music and then back again to soft synthetic ambience. The mix of this track is not up to par with the other tracks on the album and that´s rather sad as the melodies and mood is likable. In "The Enchanted Forest" a harp make way for swelling staccato strings, soft high pitched strings, horns and other instrument in the woodwind family. The composition become mathematic in my mind and never really touches anything except in the end. "Chasing Traitors" starts of very Zimmer and then move on like a horse galloping and the strings go in and out as the bass and cello keep repeating a figure. "Distant Stronghold" has a circle composition which Henrik seem to like very much. To me this track could be much more but the part in the middle I like a lot and sounds a bit like Philip Glass. It slowly changes into something very appealing and atmospheric. No masterpiece but fitting in the context. In "Deceivers Narration" Henrik Summanen show his qualities as a composer! This track should be recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra which would make wonders with it. This is a very rich cue with lots of interesting and deep changes. Sometimes Anabasis sounds like clichés but this track is like a whole movie! We get these amazingly intense parts and then it shifts to slow but moving parts. Anabasis debut might not be your most original album out there but it surely is particularly impressive with its massive sound and witty sound design. This is the case with "Deceivers Narration". "Calling the Long Since Lost" is only clichés and a rather thin cue with high pitched strings and choirs that only hurt the ear. With "Catacombs" Anabasis is back on track with a fast forward action cue. The cue does not really lead to anything which would be no problem if this was a soundtrack but as it´s a regular album I wonder why this don´t evolve. But the mood is great and the track works."At the Gates" is one of those truly great tracks were Henrik Summanen really make the music his own. The clichés are put aside to create art. At times this track sound a bit like Michael Kamen´s Overture, ("From Chains to Freedom") in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, most of all in the beginning but also later. I enjoy this cue a lot. "Dirge - End Title" revisit an old theme and ends with beautiful guitar. A very good ending.

Overall I wish Henrik would not make as many general recapitulations of the overture(s), though Anabasis does provide a very strong structure to the themes often in the last minutes of the songs. Ultimately, the album has a few highlights which are outstanding, but it seems rushed and fails to provide much interesting instrumental colors. I might sound a bit too negative as THE CHALLENGE have enough good parts to get me thrilled to hear what Henrik can do next. I am sure he will keep on evolving. This album was a good first step, sometimes great. I am very sure that people into fantasy and adventures will love some of the songs!

Gargrim the Liar STORIES OF LONG FORGOTTEN (CD 2)

Anders Dahlgren (Gargrim the Liar) is an interesting character as he runs a nice web based radio station called Radio Rivendell (www.radiorivendell) where you can, for free; listen to various soundtracks and other albums related to fantasy one way or the other. Anders is also in his mid 30s even though his persona Gargrim is an old man withering away. As it seems Anders lack musical education but for sure he does not lack knowledge! Like Anabasis the music of Gargrim the Liar is not recorded with a real orchestra but a very well made synthetic one made out with the latest of sampling technology. Anders play roleplaying games and its via them he got the inspiration to make this album. A very interesting and very modern source of inspiration! I am intrigued that´s for sure. Anders plays with music and moods and I enjoy it a lot.

A number of quite excellent cues in STORIES OF LONG FORGOTTEN

The "Preludium" is a promising opening with sounds of birds, a lonely cembalo and then wonderful choral work and a lonely drum. This cue gives the impression of an album with lots of reflective moments of delicate beauty or soaring thematic depth. A very good overture. Except the Willow style in "Of Noble Blood" the cue is dreamlike with synths and chimes combining to give the music a sense of calm and peace. A wonderful flute and also a nice harp make this cue delightful. In the end of this song I get Vangelis vibes and come to think of El Greco and 1492. "Left Alone to Die" is a wonderful title and the song is quite lovely, with a sweeping string melody, great glockenspiel, prominent timpani rolls, trumpets working up to a grand crescendo. Sadly though this cue never really break out except a piano melody in the end which is rather nice but still the high pitched strings keep on looping over and over again. In the end the track is silence for 10 seconds and I find that interesting as sometimes silence say more than music. I confess to preferring the more traditional sequences of sweeping drama, such as the gorgeous “Carmen Ex Miragliano”. Choral elements and solo female vocals are also sprinkled throughout this album, which will undoubtedly please listeners such as me with a weakness for choral flavor. The great "Carmen Ex Miragliano" is followed by "The Story Unfolds", a Spanish guitar track with the same melody played over and over again without much feeling. In the end of this song finally the Spanish guitar is thrown away slowly while a soothing female vocalist emerge together with some male choirs singing over and over again ritualistic MMMs. I should also mention some pretty good percussion work in this song. One of the low points of the album. I have figured out Dahlgren´s way of composing when the, at times genius "Their Fate is Sealed", enters my mind. Despite the unquestionable attractiveness of the cue it is trying a bit too much sounding fantasy. I must bow though to some of the passages in this mighty track. On the negative note, this larger scope and a meatier orchestral sound palette, Dahlgren imitates masters such as Hans Zimmer and Howard Shore a bit too much. "Silvanos Waltz" is a painful waltz as far as the violin goes but this cue bursts out to moments of emotion with a subdued romantic touch. This cue suffers from some tad repetitions. Without them it could have been really good. Here Dahlgren feels like the beginner he is. Impressing though how strange and intricate this cue becomes after 2 minutes! "No Way out" is a great cue with hints of Hans Zimmer but also Ennio Morricone´s Western pieces. Yet Anders Dahlgren manages to keep his own voice very obvious and that´s why this cue is so good. "Death of a Father" adds a more prominent percussion element, in what is the most threatening cue. Once again a great female solo vocalist which sing a Gladiator-like tune. All three last songs of this album are all very promising of what mood Dahlgren wants to create. Lots of slow but dramatic moments of darkness and melancholy.

Overall I believe Gargrim the Liar will be a wonderful act and Dahlgren is very promising. On the other hand he still have a lot to learn and should try to escape from the "nice, tidy, and emotionally" package and let the songs have a life of their own with more thoughts about the composition as a drama in itself. As with Henrik I cannot stress it enough that this is great fantasy inspired music but where Anabasis is more about an adventure this album is a lot more about epic drama.

Two Worlds is more closely two jointly published fantasy themed albums than a proper split. Both discs are like soundtracks made to fantasy movies that do not exist. The first disc contains The Challenge by Anabasis (i.e. Henrik Summanen, better known for his ambient project Ahasverus). The genre is obvious: Basil Poledouris –style pompous heroic epics. Summanen succeeds (no surprise there) in the goal really well, without losing his own touch from the mix. The Challenge is an interesting work, to accompany which one starts to desire that "movie" it seems to be made to support. One can almost sense the plot moving from the music’s changes, and the track names further strengthen that effect.

The second disc, however, is the better one, even as Anabasis does succeed really well. Gargim the Liar (i.e. Anders Dahlgren, who runs the label Radio Rivendell) draws his inspiration this time from the role-playing game Warhammer. Stories of Long Forgotten utilizes simple synth melodies and female-choir like sounds, very effectively. Especially the opening track, Preludium, and the third one, Left Alone to Die, are clear gems of the genre. The clever familiarity of the material, including the song names, dances right on the edge of being corny, but never slips over. The sole weak part of the album, if one takes it the right way, is an annoying fly-buzz sample near the end, which breaks the continuity of the mood.

Two great albums, much closer to classical soundtracks than the neo-classical as which they are marketed, but that is not a problem. With the right attitude they are immensely enjoyable. (If one does not, however, appreciate the intentionally cheap synth-epics, they are probably going to sound awful.) And John Howe’s pretty covers give the whole thing a finish in just the right manner.

http://www.kuolleenmusiikinyhdistys.net/

Waerloga are clearly the prime movers in both in the establishment and the defining of the 'Dark Fantasy' soundtrack. With 'Two Worlds' the potential for variations on this theme are explored and realized with a subtle degree of flair and passion. Anabasis begins proceedings with the first of the two full-length CDs, 'The Challenge' which appropriately follows in the spirit of Xenophon's eponymous journey-tale by drawing it's narrative inspiration from the last six stanzas of Browning's 'Childe Roland...' (which also inspired Stephen King's Dark Tower stories). As 'The Challenge' is structured as a soundtrack, of sorts, it naturally lacks a visual narrative from which to act as a common denominator between conductor and audience. Hence, the music itself is called upon to supply both drama and mood within the context of the chosen narrative. Anabasis has competently approached this difficulty and the opening tracks establish the work through string and wind arrangements that create an expanse of swelling sounds while moving to build a sense of tension and movement. The instrumentation used throughout the composition is keenly mannered, each instrument is used to compliment and interweave, never dominate. This is evident in the middle section of tracks such as ' Enchanted Forest' and 'Distant Stronghold' where the music colours the imagined landscape, characters and events in lieu of any lyrical narrative. Towards the close of 'The Challenge' choral and solo voices are introduced deftly fading into instrumentation or capturing a mood, but never lingering beyond their welcome. Uplifting phrases and the introspective guitar strings draw down the curtain on a work that while acknowledging influences such as Liszt or Strauss never seeks to repeat them. 'The Challenge' is a serious piece of composition and exhibits the obvious maturity of it's creator in producing a thematic vein of music that conveys a tale of anger, deceit and retribution. This is the essence of high-fantasy and Anabasis has thrown down a very proficient gauntlet in the form of 'The Challenge'.

The more mysterious Gargrim the Liar is the second 'book' of 'Two Worlds'. Here, the full-length CD, 'Stories of Long Forgotten' seems to draw from the steam-punk fantasy world of Warhammer, particularly in respect of the 'City-state of Miragliano'. Within such a recognized fantasy template any attempt at an accompanying soundtrack may rise or fall heavily. 'Stories of Long Forgotten' soars. From the opening field-recordings of birdsong there is a sense of open spaces and untamed expanses. The overwhelming strength, which is immediately apparent on 'Stories of Long Forgotten' is the employment of choral voices, not set apart from other elements in the compositions but rather, the voice is recognized as an instrument in itself and as such interflows throughout the music to produce captivating pieces that are highly emotive and stirring. There are some reminders of Enya's soundtrack for 'The Celts' but here any similarity is nullified by the sweeping arrangements that quickly put the aforementioned work into shade. At times the narrative of the music is driven forward by percussive phrasing and the accompaniment of strings which pervades the resultant sounds with a richness that serves to voice the tale. 'Stories of Long Forgotten' is a very strong piece of work that wraps many emotions together through incredibly expressive compositions. Again, there are subtle nods to influences such as Leone on 'No Way Out' but Gargrim's music retains its originality and complexity serving to propel the listener into a world apart in a manner that few other composers are capable of.

Waerloga have obviously taken great care in the aesthetic presentation of this double CD release and produced a sumptuous eight page booklet to accompany it. The artwork is another highlight as Waerloga have secured John Howe's piece that he produced in the 1980's for the cover of Robert Holdstock's utterly brilliant 'Mythago Wood'. 'Two Worlds' benefits from the fact that the two composers never overlap in style and composition so both works are separate in realization and sounds, allowing the audience to delve into either world which are distinctive to one another. This is a very mature release both in structure and vision that opens a great deal of potential for the future of the 'Dark Fantasy' soundtrack.

Chain DLK (4/5)

A new Waerloga release is always something to cherish and they almost never let you down. This time the album is called "Two Worlds" and is a 2CD Jewel Case release with two different debuting projects taking on one release each. Waerloga Records hired the very famous illustrator John Howe (famous for working as leading artist in Peter Jackson´s Lord of the Rings trilogy) who made a great cover which spans to the back of the jewel case too.

Without a doubt, both releases are built on and around strings - instruments that has become representative of Hollywood soundtracks. James Newton Howard comes to mind while listening to both Anabasis and Gargrim the Liar. I put "Two Worlds" into the same category as "Glory," "Legends of the Fall," and "The Last Samurai".

The production values of both these artists are very high. They sound a little bit alike at times but Anabasis is more classical oriented film music and Gargrim the Liar are a bit more varied. The sound of Anabasis is clear and beautiful but not near the depth of Gargrim the Liar which mix and master is top notch! The melodies on both albums are very good and I have favorite tracks on both albums.

The artwork is beautiful but a bit light to my eyes. No doubt though that John Howe is a true master!

The prospect of being able to write a score for a film filled with epic, bloodbaths, lovable, rough, good-guys and twisted, detestable villains, would make any composer lick their musical chops. When I listen to Anabasis it sounds like he should dare to go a little bit more all out, but hell this guy (Henrik Summanen) is talented! Very cinematic to say the least and the darkness of the fantasy genre is ever present.

These are very promising debut releases of both Gargrim the Liar and Anabasis. The 2CD idea is not bad but a bit brave. Gargrim the Liar come across as the one with the best sound, mixing and master and Anabasis the one with the best action and adventure spirit.

Very enjoyable dark fantasy cinematic music in the veins of Erdenstern and Arcana.

Review by: Ivan Racheck

Review Graveyard (8)

Two Worlds is the debut album of Anabasis and Gargrim the Liar. Both Anabasis and Gargrim the Liar have a CD each in which to paint, with music, their distinct world.

Packaged in a Jewel case, this CD collection comes complete with interesting cover artwork by John Howe, who was the leading artist for Peter Jackson´s Lord of the Rings trilogy. The music comes in at roughly 120 minutes and is packed to bursting with original themes and a mood for every scenario - whether you are using this as background music while playing fantasy games, or relaxing and reading a book.

Anabasis's 'The Challenge' is inspired by a poem by the English poet Robert Browning. Anabasis's music tells a story of heroism, adventure, darkness and valour. Over the course of this CD there are numerous tempos, themes and musical styles.

Highlights, for me, on the first CD include:

'The Challenge' which is an interesting, mellow theme; 'Skavedal Tavern' a fun theme which is catchy to the point that you almost want to get up and dance; 'Distant Stronghold' the later part of which reminded me of segments of Howard Shore's score for the movie Big; and 'Calling the Long Since Lost' a hauntingly eerie track.

The second CD is Gargrim the Liar's 'Stories of Long Forgotten'. The music here is inspired by Warhammer fantasy roleplay and other roleplaying games. In particular, it revolves around one specific campaign which deals with a power struggle among four families which, as a backdrop has a Romeo and Juliet-esque love drama. However, the romance is cut thinly, with the majority of the story being filled with mysterious killings, endless debates in the council halls, dark deep intrigues on many levels - all set in the upper class surroundings of nobility.

Gargrim the Liar introduces more vocal, almost choral, work to his CD. Highlights include:

'Preludium' which a beautiful track and an excellent way to start the CD; 'Of Noble Blood' which is hauntingly beautiful; 'Their Fate Sealed' which sounded not unlike Hans Zimmer's work - especially for Gladiator and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and 'Requiem for Miragliano' which is simple, but has some beautiful chord changes.

Personally I much preferred Gargrim the Liar's music. While Anabasis's CD is great, I did feel that I'd heard a few too many fantasy albums that sounded very similar, whereas Gargrim the Liar's music felt more like a score for a big budget movie. But then there are very noticeable nods to famous classical music scores in Gargrim the Liar's music.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I wish that hiring an orchestra wasn't so expensive as these two CDs are practically begging to be transformed into full orchestral recordings. While the recordings as presented are still works of art, I couldn't help thinking a lot more emotion and depth could be injected with a rousing orchestral treatment.

While both CDs are interesting, 'Stories of Long Forgotten' is one that I'll listen to much more often than 'The Challenge'.