Nanook of the North powrócili pod koniec czerwca z drugim albumem pt. "Heide" (Denovali, 2022), 4 lata po znakomicie przyjętym debiucie z 2018 roku zatytułowanym po prostu "Nanook of the North" (Denovali, 2018). Duet kompozytora i skrzypka Stefana Wesołowskiego i producenta elektronicznego Piotra Kalińskiego był doceniony przez Boiler Room, The Wire czy NPR, a Bob Boilen z Tiny Desk Concerts nazwał koncert Nanook of the North podczas słynnego SXSW Festival w USA mianem „wow moments of SXSW”. Nowy materiał to surowy i minimalistyczny soniczny pejzaż, praktycznie pozbawiony elementów perkusyjnych, za to z wokalnym udziałem uznanej mezzosopranistki Margarity Slepakovej. Podobnie jak w przypadku debiutu, muzyka na "Heide" zakorzeniona jest w naturze i jej pierwotności. Tytuł albumu nawiązuje do dzikości i nieokiełznania, a materiał na nim zawarty został zarejestrowany zimą zeszłego roku w środku lasu na wsi w północnej Polsce, co wyraźnie odczuwalne jest w aurze 9 nowych utworów z „Heide”. Wydawcą płyty (LP/CD/DL) jest uznana niemiecka wytwórnia Denovali. Płytę zmasterował James Plotkin (Scorn). Autorka zdjęć okładkowych jest gdańska artystka Olga Anna Markowska.

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Nanook of the North is back with their second album, following the enthusiastically received 2018 debut „Nanook of the North,“ (Denovali) The duo of a composer and violinist Stefan Wesołowski and electronic producer Piotr Kaliński were acclaimed by Boiler Room, The Wire or NPR. Bob Boilen of Tiny Desk Concerts called Nanook of the North‘s performance at the famous SXSW Festival in Austin, US „one of the wow moments of SXSW“. Their new material is a raw and minimalist sonic landscape, practically devoid of percussive elements but featuring vocals by an acclaimed mezzo-soprano Margarita Slepakova. As with the debut, the music on „Heide“ is rooted in nature and its primordiality. The title of the album alludes to wildness and untamedness, and the material was recorded last winter in a village located in the middle of forests in the northern Poland, which is clearly felt in the atmosphere of the 9 new tracks on „Heide“. The publisher of the album (CD | Vinyl | Download) is the renowned German label Denovali. Stefan Wesołowski is a Polish composer and violinist, author of critically acclaimed original albums and film music scores. Associated with publisher Mute Song and record labels like Important Records, Lakeshore Records, Ici D‘ailleurs and Back Lot Music. He is an author of original soundtrack to „Listen to me Marlon” (Universal) - Oscar-shortlisted and BAFTA-nominated documentary on Marlon Brando directed by Stevan Riley and original soundtrack to Irish feature film by Nathalie Biancheri entitled „Wolf ” (Focus Features), starring Lily-Rose Deep and George MacKay, premiered 2021 at Toronto Interational Film Festival. Piotr Kaliński is na electronic music producer and guitarist. Based in Gdańsk, Poland. Associated with record labels like R&S Records and Instant Classic. Member of Hinode Tapes, Hatti Vatti and JANKA bands. One of the most active figures in Polish alternative scene - in last few years he performed live in many countries across Europe, Japan, Korea and United States. Kaliński is an author of original music for short films, fashion brands campaigns like Calvin Klein or Paul Smith and games (i.e. „Cyberpunk 2077”). Margarita Slepakova is a coloratura mezzo-soprano specialized in the field of historical practices of early music. Based in Switzerland, she is a renowned opera, concert, and recital singer, collaborating with ensembles and orchestras all over Europe. Slepakova is a founder of Le Sommeil project, specializing in French music of the 17th century. She sang in many concert halls and opera houses including Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall during BBC Proms. Margarita also performs contemporary music and has premiered pieces written especially for her voice.

Press Quotes:

- a haunting, deeply moving album driven by the brutality of the Far North and the duo’s connection to it XLR8R

- Encompassing heavy drone, John Carpenter-esque analogue synths and neoclassical gloom, its melodies inch past like icebreakers, sparse and glacial MOJO

- Moments of soft beauty [...] combining with icy electronics [...] are truly sublime. ELECTRONIC SOUND