Molvær completed his debut album as a leader in 1997, Khmer, which focuses on a previously unknown blend of improvisation and hypnotically spinning beats, receiving extraordinary public and media response, and was honoured with the German Record Critics Award and a Norwegian Grammy.
The follow-up to Khmer, released in May 2000 entitled Solid Ether, intensified Molvær's dialogue with club culture. The idea behind the Solid Ether concept is that a piece of music is never really finished and that composing and producing are an ever-evolving process. "'Ether' does not exist, so how can it be solid? It's a paradox - like life".
Molvær's album NP3, released in 2002, sees him continuing the concepts that were developed through Khmer and Solid Ether by putting significant differing elements together to combine contrasting structures. A strong presence on NP3 is Molvær's soulful and creative use of new music manufacturing technology.
Molvær's latest studio album (2005) is named ER. The record contains a wide spectre of music expressions from the soft and downbeat productions to the strong and powerful ones. Molvær has taken a new direction with ER even if the soundscapes will be recognised from his previous releases. This time he has given more creative space to programmers like Knut Sævik, DJ Strangefruit, Reidar Skaar and Jan Bang.
Official website:
http://www.nilspettermolvaer.info/
Discography:
With Masqualero:
1985 - Bande À Part
1987 - Aero
1990 - Re-Enter
Solo:
1998 - Khmer
2000 - Solid Ether
2001 - Recoloured: The Remix Album (remixes)
2002 - NP3
2004 - Streamer (live)
2005 - Remakes (remixes)
2005 - ER
2005 - EDY (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Other/Guest:
1990 - So I Write (Sidsel Endresen)
1990 - Nonsentration (Jon Balke)
1993 - Exile (Sidsel Endresen)
1994 - Small Labyrinths (Marilyn Mazur)
1995 - Hastening Westward (Robyn Schulkowsky & Nils Petter Molvær)
2003 - Electra (Arild Andersen)
2007 - Ataraxis (Deeyah)
Merciful
Nils Petter Molvær Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Merciful are these thunderstorms we cling to
You wear the face
You point a beacon at the dark
You picked the place to make your statement
To speak all you know
You will leave just a nickel
There is placement
Merciful are these stories we spent
We spent
We spent
We spent
We spent
We spent
We spent
We spent
We spent
Mercifrul are these cobwebs that we cling to
Up where the fate is
Take your place
Take your place
Take your place
Is this the one you know?
We spent
Believe this
Just an echo
Just an echo
Merciful
Just an echo
Just an echo
Merciful
Merciful
Always merciful
Always merciful
Always
Always merciful, always
The song "Merciful" by Nils Petter Molvær seems to touch upon the idea of finding solace in the most unexpected places. The lyrics begin with the phrase "Merciful are these stories we spent" and "Merciful are these thunderstorms we cling to" which suggest that even though life can be tumultuous, we can derive some sort of mercy or relief from the experiences that we share with each other.
The following lines reveal a character who is determined to speak their truth unabashedly, "You wear the face, You point a beacon at the dark, You picked the place to make your statement, To speak all you know." This person seems to be aware of their own mortality as well, as indicated by the line "You will leave just a nickel, Like trains forever leaving the station." Despite this, they are driven to share what they know and leave their mark on the world.
The chorus is especially poignant, repeating the phrase "We spent, Believe this, Just an echo, Merciful." This repetitiveness could be interpreted as a sort of meditation, reminding the listener that although life is fleeting, the stories we create and the connections we make are what remain once we are gone. The character in this song seems to find solace in the fact that they will become an echo in the memories of those whose lives they've touched, and that there is still mercy to be found even in their passing.
Line by Line Meaning
Merciful are these stories we spent
These stories that we have shared and experienced have been full of mercy and kindness.
Merciful are these thunderstorms we cling to
Even in the midst of chaos and storms, we still hold on to the mercy and grace that exists.
You wear the face
You put up a front or a façade, wearing a mask to hide what's really going on inside.
You point a beacon at the dark
You bring light to the darkest of situations, serving as a guide for those who are lost.
You picked the place to make your statement
You intentionally chose a location or platform to share what you believe and stand for.
To speak all you know
You have a strong desire to share everything you know and believe with others.
You will leave just a nickel
When you depart, you won't leave much behind physically, but your impact and legacy will be felt through your actions.
Like trains forever leaving the station
Just like trains are constantly leaving the station and moving forward, so do we continue to move forward despite any obstacles or setbacks.
There is placement
There is a specific reason or purpose for everything that happens or exists.
Merciful are these cobwebs that we cling to
Even things that seem useless or unwanted can still hold onto mercy and kindness, like cobwebs that are often seen as a nuisance.
Up where the fate is
Where our destiny lies, where we are meant to be.
Take your place
Step into where you're meant to be, fulfill your purpose and destiny.
Is this the one you know?
Do you know what you're meant to do and where you belong?
We spent
We have invested our time and energy into something.
Believe this
Have faith, trust in what you know and believe to be true.
Just an echo
Sometimes our impact may seem small or insignificant, like an echo in a vast canyon.
Merciful
Even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, there is always mercy and grace.
Always merciful
No matter what, mercy and grace will always be present.
Writer(s): Sidsel Endresen, Nils Petter Molvaer
Contributed by Taylor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nathanalbaugh10
Timeless