
They share both the studio version of the track, and a beautiful stripped back live performance, recorded in Antwerp this summer.
Listen to ‘Lopšinė’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00EsLaModq0
‘Lopšinė’ live video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNpV2OI6fUE
There’s a sense of spontaneity and playfulness hanging in the air around MEROPE’s fifth album that’s palpable from the very beginning. The duo of Lithuanian singer and kanklės player Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė and guitarist / producer Bert Cools, MEROPE are kissed by the winds of change on ‘Vėjula’, a self-styled musical rebirth that confidently fosters their ongoing narrative. It’s their most experimental and open-minded full-length to date, spreading its arms to embrace collaborations with like-minded artists Shahzad Ismaily, Laraaji and Bill Frisell. And while ‘Vėjula’ still roots itself in Lithuanian folk forms, it sprouts out spiritedly from that point into unfamiliar landscapes, muddling ancient themes with contemporary philosophies, concepts and technologies.
MEROPE emerged over a decade ago in 2012, hitting their stride in 2018 when they released the nocturnal ‘Naktės’. Since then, they’ve developed a considerable reputation for their whimsical fusion of folk and ambient music; their last album, ‘Salos’, released on Belgium’s STROOM imprint and recorded with Vilnius-based chamber choir Juana Muzika and conductor Vaclovas Augustinas, received universal acclaim, described by Boomkat as “effortlessly enchanting” and supported by none other than BJÖRK.
‘Vėjula’ moves their music forward by examining its beating heart, weaving delicate instrumental sequences and ethereal vocals into a rich tapestry of subtle synth work, evocative field recordings and enigmatic processes. Dazzlingly modest, the album strips down MEROPE to their essence, rediscovering the joy in creation and collaboration. ‘Vėjula’ is an album that reaches into the unknown without losing its tight grip on the past. MEROPE are in a new creative phase of their career, and they’ve never sounded quite so universal, or so vital.
Tracklist
01. Koumu Lil
02. Namopi feat. Laraaji and Shahzad Ismaily
03. Lopšinė
04. Vija
05. Spindulė
06. Aglala
07. O Underhill feat. Shahzad Ismaily
08. Rana
Live dates
08/11 - Le Guess Who? - Utrecht, NL
20/11 - Viernulvier (Ruiskamer) - Gent (double bill with Alex Zhang Hungtai)
23/11 - Explore The North - Leeuwarden, NL
28/11 - BRAND! - Mechelen, BE
29/11 - Het Bos – Antwerp
01/12 - Bozar - Brussel
Links: https://meropemusic.com / https://stroomtv.bandcamp.com