UMUR
"A Quick Fix of Melancholy" is an EP release by Norwegian experimental music act Ulver. The EP was released through Jester Records in August 2003. It´s the follow-up release to the November 2002 soundtrack album release "Lyckantropen Themes" and it was released only a month before the release of Ulver´s seventh full-length studio album "Svidd neger" (also a soundtrack album released in September 2003).
Ulver had been experimenting with drone, noise, and ambient music since "Perdition City: Music To An Interior Film" (March 2000) and some experiments worked better than others. With "A Quick Fix of Melancholy" they hit one of their better quality ambient moments. While still being pretty experimental and diverse, the four tracks on the 23:09 minutes long EP have more shape, form, and direction than the more experimental ambient releases which directly precede it. The programmed orchestral parts and the semi-operatic vocals (the fact that there are vocals at all) are a relief after being subjected to the shapeless ambience of the preceding releases. I´ll dare say that "A Quick Fix of Melancholy" is at least occassionally an inviting and easily accessible ambient electronic music release.
Featuring a well sounding production job, intriguing songwriting ideas, and a perfect execution of those ideas, "A Quick Fix of Melancholy" is arguably the most interesting and well made Ulver release from this period of their career. A must listen for fans of Ulver´s ambient output. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.