Svarte Greiner
Penpals forever (and ever)
Digitalis Recordings

The problem with Svarte Greiner (aka Norway's Erik K. Skodvin) is that it fails to create an atmosphere of any real note in a genre that is brimming with bands and projects that take the listener into all sorts of ethereal worlds. Total escapism is the name of the game in ambient circles and, while "Penpals forever" does offer that to a degree, it's more of a visual image of what Skodvin has done to create the sounds he has, rather than the otherworldly experience that listening to the likes of dark ambient sounds provides. As a result, the potential gloominess that Skodvin could have created is, for the most part, lost and we're left with more of a lesson in sound invention. Maybe this is his intention and, in that case, he's done a sterling job. However, this type of 'music' has been done countless times before and has produced much more profound results in the past. Horses for courses though, and maybe this type of askew instrumentalism is right up a lot of streets for some. For me it's just very average.
- John Norby