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 2
Nils Petter Molvær Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Merciful are these cobwebs that we cling to
You wear the face
You point the beacon at the dark
You pick the place
To make your statement
To speak while you know
You leave just an echo
The lyrics of Nils Petter Molvær's "Merciful 2" seems to reflect on the nature of human storytelling and how they create and hold onto beliefs or experiences. The first line, "Merciful are these stories we spin", implies that these stories or narratives that humans create have some sort of gentle quality to them, perhaps in the way that they offer comfort or hope. The second line, "Merciful are these cobwebs that we cling to", takes on a different tone. The idea of a cobweb suggests something that is fragile and easily broken, however, it can also serve as a trap or a barrier. The lyrics may be suggesting that these stories or beliefs that we cling to can also be limiting and hinder our growth or progress.
The next lines, "You wear the face, You point the beacon at the dark, You pick the place, To make your statement", seem to be directed at a particular person who is in control of the narrative. This person is the one who chooses what stories to tell, where to tell them, and how to present them. The lines "...while you know, You leave just an echo, Like trains forever leaving stations" suggest that while this storyteller may have an impact, their influence may not be as everlasting as they may believe.
Line by Line Meaning
Merciful are these stories we spin
We create stories to ease our pain and suffering, and it's a kind act that we do.
Merciful are these cobwebs that we cling to
We hold on to the things that give us comfort and a sense of security, even if they are fragile and fleeting.
You wear the face
You put on a facade or mask to hide what you truly feel.
You point the beacon at the dark
You try to find hope and light in the midst of darkness and despair.
You pick the place
You choose where to stand and fight for what you believe in, regardless of the risks that may entail.
To make your statement
To express your opinion or make your voice heard on an issue that is important to you.
To speak while you know
To speak with knowledge and conviction, and to be aware of the impact of your words on others.
You leave just an echo
Your presence may only be temporary, but the impact of your actions or words can still reverberate long after you've gone.
Like trains forever leaving stations
Just as trains continue to depart from stations, life goes on and we must keep moving forward even as we leave things behind.
Writer(s): Nils Petter Molvaer
Contributed by Daniel P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.