“fragments” feels like a record distinct and in and of itself. The powerful experimental tour de force from virgin orchestra pushes boundaries every way it seems to go, and it goes in many directions to say the absolute least. Immensely provocative from the word go, the album’s opening “intro” is itself a blazing and temporal shift that has you mesmerised.
Comprised of musicians who met at the Icelandic University of the Arts, Virgin Orchestra brings together a collection diverse musical backgrounds and influences to create a captivating musical journey. Drawing inspiration from the likes of The Cure, My Bloody Valentine, The Velvet Underground, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Delia Derbyshire, the band weaves together elements of post-punk, electronic, dreampop, and noise into a cohesive and mesmerizing tapestry.
‘fragments’ is a collection of seven tracks each bringing forth a new element and dimension to the band’s ethos. Brought to life by its blend of live instruments and programmed elements, the group creates a captivating juxtaposition of organic and electronic sounds. The guitar-driven melodies, haunting cello arrangements, pulsating basslines, and ethereal vocals all fuse in one to create this wholly electrifying yet grounded sonic landscape that is continually hypnotic.
There’s a level of dexterity in the intricacy of each arrangement, a sheer talent to the production and layering that has you absolutely floored from back to front.
The record delve into themes of identity, isolation, and the fragmented nature of existence, tapping into a more visceral question of existence and our place in the world. This isn’t a record that has a match, nor an equivalence. It’s not a listen that’s particularly easy or simple, it’s heavy, brooding, and at times incredibly dark. But, the experience is magnetic and the emotions it takes you through are tolling yet worth it.
A majestic debut.