After a long wait we can finally announce the arrival of the physical CDs to our MONOLITH I album, and we are very happy with the result.
Needless to say, we are also very eager to start sending out this special object to all who are attached to the unique level of connection with music on physical media. In gratitude, still deeply touched and inspired by the fantastic reactions you have given us so far since the release.
In an increasingly complex and multicultural world where everything seems possible, NEN becomes more than just the name of a band. It is the nearly tangible manifestation of what interaction as a group can mean, an exploration that combines and distills the individual musical experiences and qualities of the band members into a new and unmistakable essence.
Beginning from the first downbeat, the monolith juxtaposes three metrical structures of 13,14 and 29, creating one cycle lasting 58:39 minutes, on the last beat of which they all converge. Based on the same tempo and rooted in a precise metrical construct, the music reveals an intrinsic ability to flow freely within its strict framework.
The vision of the four musicians with their unique blend of instruments was to combine initially collectively improvised sections into a clear and well-balanced composition. Separate phrases are woven together and allowed to wander from one instrument to another, letting them appear again and again in new timbres and contexts.
When seen from different perspectives, the monolith changes its appearance, yet it is still a single, indivisible unit. NEN carved and shaped the original recordings during the mixing process, unearthing a singular, inimitable band sound. Subtly directing the listeners focus to ever new depths of detail, thus allowing the monolith’s final crystalline shape to come to light.