Merope’s Vėjula Album: A Pitchfork Review

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If we’re lucky to live long enough, we make beautiful memories that warp and splinter and, eventually, fade away completely. Merope, the Lithuanian-Belgian experimental folk project led by multi-instrumentalists Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė and Bert Cools, taps into that lovely devastation on V​ė​jula. The duo approaches each sound with reverent curiosity, arranging their songs with the care of someone designing a shadowbox. Each sample loop, synth gurgle, and vocal snippet sits just so, sparkling when the light catches and gently fading like late afternoon sun. It’s a softly commanding record, not building a world as much as revealing one. There is always much to notice, but it’s nearly impossible to take it all in at once.

Merope: Crafting Musical Tapestries

V​ė​jula is Merope’s fifth album, but first to fully embrace their diaphanous, New Age-y inclinations. The band began as an EU-spanning “alternative world music” quintet, using acoustic instruments, light processing effects, and soft jazz flourishes to conjure gentle pastoral groovers. Merope whittled to a trio for 2018’s nakt​ė​s and 2021’s Salos, reinterpreting Lithuanian folk songs with heavier use of electronics and, in the case of Salos, a 24-person chamber choir. Jurgelevičiūtė and Cools made V​ė​jula as a duo, but invited collaborators like Shahzad Ismaily, Laraaji, and Bill Frisell into the fold. Speaking to the Bozar Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels, Cools described the process behind V​ė​jula as an exercise in presence. “You never know when you’re going to find a song. It could be in something very small,” he explained. “It’s magic.”

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Exploring Textures and Traditions

The building blocks of any Merope composition are Jurgelevičiūtė’s vocals and kanklės, a zither-like Lithuanian stringed instrument whose sonorous shimmer was traditionally associated with protection from death and evil spirits. Here, Jurgelevičiūtė and Cools seem more interested in the textural possibilities than the classical folk context. Both elements get their own, unadorned moments in the spotlight—Jurgelevičiūtė’s mournful melodies on “Lopšinė” (Lithuanian for “lullaby”), the radiant rippling of the kanklės-only “Vija”—but more often, they’re spliced into tesserae and organized into glittering mosaics. On “Aglala,” filtered microsamples of Jurgelevičiūtė’s voice tumble over each other before plunging beneath a thick synth drone, occasionally bobbing to the surface for air. Kanklės samples flicker in the background of “Spindulė,” wavering in and out of focus like scraps of overheard conversation. The recontextualization is inspired, threading the old world to the new without losing any mysticism in the process.

Collaborative Magic

V​ė​jula is not just a showcase for Jurgelevičiūtė and Cools; it’s a testament to the power of collaboration. By inviting artists like Shahzad Ismaily, Laraaji, and Bill Frisell to contribute, Merope expands its sonic palette and enriches the listening experience. Each guest brings a unique perspective and skill set, adding layers of depth and complexity to the already intricate tapestries woven by the duo. The result is a mesmerizing blend of sounds and styles that transcends traditional genre boundaries, creating a musical landscape that is at once familiar and entirely new.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Merope’s V​ė​jula is a masterful exploration of sound, texture, and tradition. Through careful curation and collaboration, Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė and Bert Cools have crafted a musical experience that is both captivating and immersive. Each track on the album is a work of art in its own right, blending elements of folk, electronic, and ambient music into a seamless whole. V​ė​jula invites the listener to embark on a journey of discovery, where every note and nuance reveals a new facet of the intricate musical tapestry created by Merope.

FAQs

Q: What inspired Merope to create V​ė​jula?

A: Merope drew inspiration from a desire to explore diaphanous, New Age-y inclinations and to fully embrace their experimental folk roots.

Q: How did collaboration play a role in the making of V​ė​jula?

A: Collaborating with artists like Shahzad Ismaily, Laraaji, and Bill Frisell added depth and complexity to the album, expanding Merope’s sonic palette and enriching the listening experience.

Q: What sets V​ė​jula apart from Merope’s previous albums?

A: V​ė​jula marks a shift towards a more textural and collaborative approach, blending traditional folk elements with electronic and ambient influences to create a unique musical landscape.


Credit: pitchfork.com

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