Sympathetic Magic is an ecstatic, delirious, and deeply touching piece of music; a towering new work in Kim Myhr’s increasingly substantial output as an artist and composer. It is the follow-up to Kim Myhr’s 2017 album You | me, which was widely praised and received an honorary mention at the 2018 Nordic Music Prize. While the immersive warmth of You | me is still present, Sympathetic Magic is more expansive than its predecessor. A band of eight musicians playing a wide variety of instruments including electric 12-string guitars, drum machines, vocals, synthesizers, organs and lots of drums and percussion, has created a work of a grander scale.
The shimmering, oceanic waves of You | me has been traded for cosmic currents in Sympathetic Magic. Put simply, Sympathetic Magic is a collection of song-like structures that has expanded into symphonic proportions. “With You | me, I wanted to create an ocean of sound, where the listener is surrounded by a myriad of elements that has equal importance in the music. I wanted to challenge this a bit, to push certain elements forward. The result is a more song-like kind of music than what I’ve done before.” – Kim Myhr
Kim Myhr: electric 6- and 12-string guitars, organ, bass,
synthesizers, voice, drum machine
Hans Hulbækmo: drum set, percussion
Michaela Antalová: drum set, percussion
Ingar Zach: gran cassa, timpani, percussion, vibrating speakers
Adrian Myhr: bass, additional electric 6- and 12-string
electric guitars
Anja Lauvdal: additional organ and synthesizers
Håvard Volden: additional 6- and 12-string electric guitars
David Stackenäs: additional 6- and 12-string electric guitars