The music of Oblivion Ensemble remains as elusive and surreal as the ever-shifting cast of musicians and performers who participate—knowingly or unknowingly—in their work. Founding members are John Bergstrom and Brannon Hungness (aka Figure). Hungness is a virtuoso experimental guitarist and composer and a former member of the Glenn Branca Ensemble. Bergstrom is a computer-music gearhead and a film composer with a classical music pedigree, and mastermind behind the industrial-noise assembly Torse.
Seraphim Hallucino is Oblivion Ensemble’s fifth full-length release, the first since the virtual opera Nightmare: SinistrotorsE released in 1995. At Seraphim Hallucino’s source are strange, electro-acoustic improvisations of percussion, trumpet, voice, synthesizers and guitar. These improvisations are sculpted and sampled, twisted and turned, shaped into building and diminishing moments and—at times appearing alone—pure and unmodified.
Deeply imbedded in the music and fragmented lyrics are secrets, intertwining themes, voices, and imprinted messages. All come together to create an enormously complex, mercurial mix of surreal, dynamic and dark sounds. To fully appreciate the scope and intricacies of Seraphim Hallucino, headphones in a darkened room are highly recommended.
2006 — Malignant Records
