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Tor Lundvall is one of your proprietor's very favorite artists in this whole catalogue. The fourth and final chapter in his seasons cycle is his dreamiest music ever. Play this to feel a lovely summer breeze any time of the year.
The title of this album came to me one summer afternoon in 1999 while sitting on a bench facing an old graveyard by the sea in Amagansett, New York. I watched the sunlight casting face-like patterns across the gravestones as a lawn mower droned quietly in the distance, mixed with the sound of children's laughter. After writing down a few song titles, I started working on recordings, which would attempt to capture the strange, yet peaceful atmosphere of this moment.
The track order follows the slow progression of a summer day from morning through evening. While most of the tracks have pastoral themes, tracks such as 'The City' and 'Game Room' evoke memories of hiding away in air conditioned rooms away from the pounding heat, while digital clocks and video games blinked in the cool darkness. Many of the songs were constructed around the after-effects of pure reverb, giving the music a soft and hazy quality. I encourage the listener to play this album outside when the summer sun sets, just as the evening ghosts call softly from the woods.
Strange Fortune listener reviews are a free space to share your impressions of the music.
Michael J. Salo says on 30 Aug 2005
Having derived much enjoyment from this release for a couple years now, I just thought I'd write a little about it.
After starting out with the successful _Autumn Calls_ collaborative album with Tony Wakeford, Tor Lundvall went on to pursue a full seasonal album series on his own. Each release saw his musical abilities increase, and by the time World Serpent put out the "Spring" chapter _The Mist_, this listener was permanently hooked on Tor's distinctive ghostly atmospheres.
All that was left to do was something for Summer. I recall wondering if Tor would actually attempt a Summer-themed album, and how in the world an artist with such a gothic aesthetic would pull that off. I was dying of anticipation.
Under the Shadows of Trees arrived in '03 and I instantly knew it was perfect, from the title to the artwork to the first hazy notes. Here is the first dark ambient album for the Summer season.
It's an original creation that sounds just right all the way through. It doesn't make sense to try to explain this music in terms of references to other artists, instead one has to describe the music itself. It moves softly, it ebbs and flows, winds this way and that and back again in delicate melodic themes. Tor's whispered vocals are just one subtle musical layer in the intricately painted, many-layered tracks.
It's the most "listenable" ambient music I've ever heard. Under the Shadows of Trees is my own most-played Tor album of all so far. Its unique nature is such that it's sometimes the *only* album I want to listen to – particularly in the sweltering hottest months of the year, where it makes sense and so much other music in its genre doesn't until fall or winter.
This title was essentially un-promoted at its time of release. Not enough people have heard this music yet, but Strange Fortune is doing its best to establish Tor Lundvall as the first-tier artist that he really is, just as the relatively song-oriented Last Light album has come along and is turning on brand new listeners...
Alexandre Boudreau says on 12 Nov 2006
One thing to mention about Tor Lundvall Under the shadows of trees is the fact that i listen it over and over since i get this nice cd. If you are looking for a new way to execute original ambient the art of Tor Lundvall is the way !!! Amazing, beautiful sorrow, the purity of sound like Biosphere. Five star ***** for Tor Lundvall. I will look to his other works its sure !
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