the limited wooden box edition includes the 'sphere from the woods' cd, a round sticker and cards. packaging: dark brown coloured wooden box w/ silver print.
since the very beginning, the addition of acoustic instruments and tribal, ritualistic influences have been an integral part of the omnipresent electronic soundscapes of empusae. these significant aspects have also been reflected in many of this project's album titles, like f.e. 'the hatred of trees' and 'organic.aural.ornaments'. for his present work, nicolas van meirhaeghe's influences were mainly centred around nature - woods, forests and trees, as well as paintings by his artist friend christel morvan (nesisart), who created the main theme for the album's artwork. empusae has the talent and the gift to turn all these disparate artifacts into a mature piece of sound.
'sphere from the woods' is the perfect fusion of natural, organic elements and advanced electronics. it blends a huge variety of acoustic sources, ranging from synthesizers, processed field recordings, ethnical percussions and guitars to quite unusual acoustic instruments like psaltery, chains, plates and several kinds of wood. orchestral arrangements combined with touching melody lines and precisely set rhythmic syncopation generate an enthralling amalgam of atmospheric ambiance and cinematic elements with a deep ceremonious flow.
if a more focused description of empusae's musical self-image is needed, then you need nothing more that the word 'organic'. and 'sphere from the woods' is the release where this concept locks in in the most perfect way. wood has long been used as an artistic medium - this album develops a very new and exciting aspect for manipulating and moulding this structural tissue.
