‘With the loss of my mother, I not only lost a parent, but also my hometown Haugesund, my childhood, the source of a loving upbringing, the whole foundation I had stacked a rickety existence upon. Her death was a prolonged struggle, she was gone many years before, but it wasn’t until she actually died the carpet was dragged from under me and now several years later I’m still scurrying in an uncomfortable confusing space. I realise this is mourning and this is what mourning does to you.’
-Kjetil Nernes on “Mother”
Grief is a harrowing scar on the body of our existence; grief is a love displaced, with nowhere left to go. It marks you forever, whether you acknowledge its presence or not. The loss of a parent, especially one’s mother, is one of the most significant moments in our lives – the loss of the one who carried you under her heart for nine months, who (ideally) loved you unconditionally. There is nothing to prepare you for this event, and nothing to console you. You just go on.
I am not going to pretend that I understand the emotional turmoil at the center of “Mother”, the new single by Norwegian noise rock visionaries Årabrot, but, having almost lost my own mother to cancer twice, I can at least sympathize with it. I can identify with the sentiment shared by band leader Kjetil Nernes in the above quote – I too would likely shatter under the insurmountable weight of that loss. It’s this unfortunate, unavoidable relatability that makes “Mother” such a potent piece of art, though, and I’m proud that we’re allowed to premiere it for you today.
“Mother” comes off the upcoming Årabrot record Rite of Dionysus, and it’s probably not the kind of single you’d expect from this usually quite artfully noisy ensemble. It’s plaintive, hypnotic, minimalistic, and quietly heartfelt, with lyrics that demonstrate the persistence of love even through the perishing of its recipient. It’s restrained but unimaginably impactful, a beautiful study on the devastation and clarity of grief.
Fittingly, the accompanying video is composed of still, somber shots of Nernes, simply existing in various locations: a house, a town, a graveyard, his mother’s grave. Realized by Nernes himself, Karin Park, and Corentin Schieb, this video is a fitting visual component to the music and lyricism of “Mother”.
Rite of Dionysus was recorded in the same sessions with producer Alain Johannes that brought forth the band’s last album Of Darkness and Light, which also means that it too was conceived in the old church Årabrot converted into a studio. Commenting on the album’s contents, Nernes divulged the following:
‘It deals with stuff that’s real to us. Maybe there is something real in it for you too. It’s not for everyone and it’s not gonna hit you in the head. But ever so slowly it might creep under your skin.‘
Årabrot will release Rite of Dionysus on August 29 via Pelagic Records; you can place a pre-order via the band’s Bandcamp. The previous singles can also be found there. Be sure to follow the band on social media (Facebook | Twitter) to keep in touch with them.
