Guest Mixtape: Adam Wiltzie (A Winged Victory For The Sullen)

We are honoured to present a special guest mix compiled by the world-renowned New York-born and Brussels-based composer Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie (A Winged Victory/Stars Of The Lid). Last year saw the eagerly awaited return of A Winged Victory For The Sullen – the cherished collaboration with piano composer Dustin O’ Halloran – with their sublime Ninja Tune debut ‘The Undivided Five’.

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Photo credit: Jonatan Gretarsson

Late last year saw the highly anticipated return of the cherished duo A Winged Victory For The Sullen with their latest singular expedition, ‘The Undivided Five’. Their recorded output – beginning with the seminal eponymous debut from almost a decade ago – continues to push the sonic envelope and navigate new seas of wonder and inspiration; each one a time capsule beautifully captured.

On their latest full-length – and Ninja Tune debut – it is clear a rejuvenated spirit and renewed togetherness (through the tragic loss of their close friend Jóhann Jóhannsson) seeps into every pore of this captivating, far-reaching sonic odyssey. The signature sound of Adam Wiltzie’s otherworldly ambient guitar drone and Dustin O’ Halloran’s poignant, sparse piano is combined to unleash a spectrum of raw emotion; that is at once healing and transformative.

The album opener ‘Our Lord Debussy’ begins with heartfelt solo piano notes, which reverberate into the further reaches of one’s mind and subconscious being. Majestic strings (supplied as ever by the band’s trusted string quartet, Echo Collective) fades into the mix while Wiltzie’s guitar drone soars beneath. These elements fuse amidst a crescendo of pulsating waves wherein the soul stirring piano motif soon returns. Standing as the longest piece on the album, this piece of music illustrates just how far the duo’s musical path has taken us, the devoted listener, by the boundless nature of their singular sonic oeuvre.

Angelic beauty ascends on ‘The Slow Descent Has Begun’; another timeless gem whose DNA strands undeniably overlap with Jóhannsson’s similarly empowering classical works. Catharsis. An unwavering beauty that can’t help but lift your heart. Darker piano tones and haze of shimmering drone drifts across the sprawling canvas of ‘Aqualung, Motherfucker’ which finally resolves into a post-classical realm of hope and light.

Francesco Donadello’s trademark flourishes are found throughout. The album’s title-track is masterfully built upon the Italian maestro’s sublime analogue synthesizer soundscapes. Timeless ambient drone bliss are emitted as Wiltzie’s guitar haze weaves in and out. O’ Halloran’s heartfelt piano lament ‘Keep It Dark, Deutschland’ serves the album’s fitting close. Music from deep within. We are in debt to this unrivaled pair.

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‘The Undivided Five’ is out now on Ninja Tune.

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http://www.awvfts.com/

https://ninjatune.net/home

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This mix is dedicated to all the ‘Sad Dads’ out there who have been suddenly thrust into the position of autodidacticism. Here in Belgium, the failure of humanity and the rascality of this lockdown has entered the 4th week, which has now become a Spring Break / Easter Holiday of immense complexity. The belief here in this tiny kingdom is school will not be coming back this year, so hold on tight, the Scaramouch in question is not going anywhere fast. This is gonna be a long summer….

—Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie