A Sense of Destiny is already the fourth collaboration of Slovakian guitarist snd sound designer David Kollar and Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen (following Illusion of a Separate World, Sculpting in Time, (read the review HERE) with Henriksen playing on three tracks only, and Unexpected Isolation, (you can read the review HERE) 2018, 2019 and 2020, all released on Hevhetia). Like their previous collaboration Unexpected Isolation, the new album was recorded remotely in 2021 and 2022 with Kollarworking at the Mystery Stable studio in Prešov, Slovakia, and Henriksen in the Arve Music Studio in Mølnlycke, Sweden.

Kollar and Henriksen are experienced sonic alchemists that have been refining their own aesthetics, a sonic language that suggests highly cinematic sonic ambiances with a reserved, unhurried dramatic approach. Adam Baruch calls this language in the liner notes «sound painting, sound sculpting or perhaps sound dancing», hinting to the seminal influence of Jon Hassell’s Fourth World school. And, indeed, Kollar and Henriksen created together soundscapes that not only melted geographical distances but also ancient traditions with futurist genres, as well as warm acoustic sounds with subtle electronic treatments with their poetic and nuanced sonic collages.

A Sense of Destiny offers 12 concise soundscapes that refer to a mythical time and space, innocent, imaginative and simply beautiful, all are informed by the cover photo of Henriksen’s wife Anna Maria Friman. The open, spacious essence of these gentle but unpredictable soundscapes leaves enough room for the listeners to involve their own sonic images and stories or their preferred elixirs, as Baruch suggests.

Eyal Hareuveni

David Kollar (g, p, elec. treatments), Arve Henriksen (tp, bcl, v, synth, elec. treatments)