It would be easy and perhaps lazy to assume that obscure post rock outfit Alfemir would hail from one of the Scandinavian countries, or certainly have their background rooted in the wider Nordic community. However this one man project of the very American sounding name Madison Asche, originally hails from Portland, Oregon and who now calls California home.  Even though Asche has so far released all of his music independently, his  musical style is littered with comparables to his contemporaries. From the very first bars of What Allows Us to Endure on the opener ‘A Song of Laughter and Forgetting’ we are instantly treated to that now familiar formula that we would associate with Icelandic giants, Sigur Ros.  The patient build-up, the hushed vocals, the beautiful subtle electronic arrangement are all present and when the track filters to its eventual climax; Asche’s vocals really take the track to reach its own euphoric peak, comparable with the best Sigur Ros have ever reached themselves.

In a recent interview with Asche, he described the theme of this album as hope and the shared experience of emotion. With the album making such a grand statement with its opening track, his intentions continue to become clear as the album progresses.  On ‘A Song for Beauty and Adornment’, the heavier intense drum beats widen the scope of the music’s reach whilst the more reflective moments in the track is reminiscent of some of the most beautiful moments of The Album Leaf’s career high point of In A Safe Place.  However, hope is not without disappointment. By the end of the third track of ‘A Song of Decision and Inevitability’, the atmosphere is suddenly one of chaos with crashing cymbals confirming the changing path of the record.  

Asche explained how he enjoys adding ‘odd things in’ to his music (as the sole member and as independent musician, he can basically do what the hell he wants!), and this is showcased in ‘A Song for Loss and Inheritance’ where subtle ambient electronica is used to create an atmosphere of isolation pointing towards an uncertain future. The album fortunately doesn’t veer off into a tale of pity and of self-loathing. The music slows down, but like hop, it doesn’t die altogether and this ‘ceaseless devotion’ as Asche describes it endures, and grows again by the album’s close with the same keys and vocals (albeit muffled this time) being used on the very last track.  

More is expected to come from Alfhemir. Another album entitled ‘Amaranthine’ is planned for later in the year and its hoped by Asche that he will have a live show with a full band ready in the near future.

What Allows Us To Endure is by its own admission ‘emotionally uncompromising’, and listening to it in its entirety may not be for the faint hearted. However it you’re able to keep your emotions in check and appreciate what Madison Asche went through to put it together, you’ll be left with more than a rewarding listen.