This largely instrumental seven-minute masterpiece is my all-time favorite Ulver track. Its trance-like cinematic atmosphere really encourages the mind to wander and create its own accompanying visions for which to utilize the piece as a soundtrack.
Fairly sparse overall, the composition ebbs and flows between layers of low drones and synths, glitchy spats of electronics, and stripped down percussion. But once the vocals kick in? Captivating.
It's arguably Kristoffer Rygg's finest singing performance ever, even if it only lasts a mere minute-and-a-half. The inflection, the flow...
Only streetlights... and the grating of gravel in pedestrian subways...
Perfection. That's all there is to it. The soulful emphasis on the line "...and on the stairs before I left..." absolutely fucking destroys me. Every single time.
The album's strongest moments—this track being the highlight for me—are so striking and powerful, in fact, that I've honestly had a hard time keeping up with Ulver ever since. I always find myself coming back to Perdition City, and frequently throw this particular song on a loop for repeated listening.
