Genre: Ambient/ Electronic
01 Come Ingrid
02 Un Nuovo Pianeta
03 Carillon
04 Come Neruda
05 Echi
06 Quiete
07 Riflessioni
08 Come Bene
J Orphic is the creation of Jeron, since 2005 in Milan. Using electronic and ambient stylings, he is influenced by nature, Christian religion, fog, and his own instincts. For the most part his work seems to be a combination of minimal ambient and voices, be it-spoken word or whispers. “Sulla Terra”, or “On the Earth” is J Orphics debut full-length album for DNA Productions. Within the album are many influences. Two that are heard throughout are Northaunt and Aghast. There are so many facets to this release that at times it’s hard to believe this is a debut. Inside there is sweetness, sorrow, passion, lush arrangements, graceful calm and intensity. That a lot of thought, care, and soul went into each song is evident.
To simply dissect each song and give a half-hearted opinion would do a disservice to the work recorded. That it starts with bagpipes in “Come Ingrid” and ends with a divine and infernal reverb in “Come Bene” is merely a road map for what lies in between. There are spoken word samples pretty much throughout each track. Chilean writer and poet Pablo Neruda, the immortal Charles de Gaulle, Italian actor and director Carmelo Bene, and yes, even Gaahl from Norway’s notorious Gorgoroth are featured. The music within is a mixture of droning ambient, music box Christmas carols, electronic, baroque, choral, trumpets, thunderstorms, breathing and whispers. That said the music is so appropriate for each piece nothing feels overdone or forced. There is an ease and tranquility to Sulla Terra as a whole. That serenity is found in J Orphic’s spiritual influence, the theme is interlaced from start to finish. The use of choral music, angelic harps and bell-like tones enhance the fact. Gaahls short spoken word in “Riflessioni” brings a discussion as to what is inherent in all humans to what is man made in religion. At times, especially in “Quiete”, the mood turns haunting and uneasy, yet at the same time harmonious and sacred. The theme of nature as an inspiration is also heard in “Sulla Terra”. You cannot mention “Riflessioni” without referring to the storm used. The sound of the thunderstorm gives an intimidating touch to an already macabre yet enlightening piece. Elsewhere, the recordings of tides are used in “Come Neruda”, bringing a rhythmic, gentle quality to the arrangement. That is for the first half of the song, this gentle atmosphere quickly turns into a cosmic baroque affair, yet retaining it’s natural influence.
The insight J Orphic has given to us at times is a glimpse of beauty. In simple terms he “gets it”. He gets the relationship that music can have with its audience. As a piece of music (or art as the case may be) it is a total package. Songs that bear up to repeated listening, themes that give us something to think about. It’s up to you really, to what you want it to mean to you. That he’s tricked us into questioning who and what we believe in, the relation it has to nature, and the emotion that it brings is done immaculately.
