Drawing us in with a cosmic, layered glockenspiel performance and a textured kick, The White Whisper opens African Lullaby with spiritual dimensionality. The opus expands with celestial, meditative frequencies creating a cohesive and zen tapestry of sound.
We appreciate the build of the composition as cerebral, metallic percussion elements enter, accompanied by ethereal vocals. African Lullaby holds a high emotional quotient and taps into trip-hop notions, particularly with the strings arrangement.
The cinematic allure is also tangible, and we could imagine the track being featured in a trippy and psychedelic TV show like Nine Perfect Strangers, or perhaps PLUR1BUS on Apple TV. The creators cite Dead Can Dance, David Sylvian, The Orb, Massive Attack, Jah Wobble, Depeche Mode, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Kraftwerk, and Brian Eno as sonic influences, which we can feel manifest. They also describe the piece as, “hypnotic like a Steve Reich composition, or a sort of futuristic Giorgio Moroder experiment.”
On their influences, The White Whisper details, “They are all artists who weren’t shy in blending together aesthetics from different cultures and different styles, mixing them with electronic and experimental solutions. And as well, trying to create music with a meaningful message, not just for superficial entertainment. In a current time where the chances to make money with music is very close to zero, then why to sacrifice creative freedom, imagination and emotional depth, in favour of commercial choices? To indulge in thought-provoking, exciting musical explorations is a more logical choice. So, those artists inspired us to do exactly that.”
We deeply vibe with the authenticity displayed, and there are definitely elements of ancient-futurism that come to life. We could also envision the piece being used in a vinyasa yoga class, or perhaps being performed at a festival like Medicine, or Soul Revolution. It is no surprise that The White Whisper plays regularly at Ecstatic Dance and sound-journey events in Norway.
For some background, Max Barberi is the producer at the core of The White Whisper. As the primary composer, he works in collaboration with various Norwegian artists, as well as occasional international collaborators such as Sonja Pepperrabit (Germany) and Chantell Davidets (Zimbabwe).
Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added African Lullaby to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to explore the wider discography of The White Whisper, including Sidereal Tears, and the entirety of Lunar Dances.