A varve is a geological layer of sediment, an archive of climatic change, similar to the rings of a tree. Like core samples taken from this incredible memory of nature, the individual pieces of the album are drawn from a larger, continuous whole.

Viennese cellist and sonic explorer Lukas Lauermann’s ten-movement, fourth solo album Varve is a minimalist suite in search of resonance in a world in flux. Lauermann focuses on the tiniest irregularities in his minimalist, austere cello playing: subtle, slow, and delicate shifts that speak of something capable of unleashing powerful change. Varve explores decay and renewal and spatial and temporal connections whose dimensions lie beyond our comprehension.

Lauermann organized a unique setup of him playing the cello, surrounded by an ensemble of tape machines and cassette recorders that produce a choir of church-like organ tones and wordless, only-syllable voices, with the hiss of the devices weaving into delicate, repetitive motifs. The cello is still the leading instrument that moves through this layered sonic fabric. The cello parts were recorded at Feedback Studio 2 Vienna, in October 2024. The tapes were produced and recorded at Funkhaus Vienna from August to October 2024.

This is a moving, thought-provoking suite with an emotional and intellectual depth, calling our attention to the perils of climate change. In its modest, introspective manner, it sometimes corresponds to and distills Philip Glass’ epic, ritualist soundtracks for Godfrey Reggio films – Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi, and Naqoyqatsi, all depicted life out of balance and on the verge of decay with powerful chants for healing our planet.

Eyal Hareuveni

Lukas Lauermann (cello, organ, vocal samples, various reel-to-reel tape and cassette recorders)