A Quick Fix of Melancholy

Updated on Jan 22, 2024

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Released August 26, 2003 Length 22:55 Artist Ulver Genre Ambient		Recorded Winter 2002 A Quick Fix of Melancholy (2003) Svidd neger (2003) Release date 26 August 2003 Label The End Records

A Quick Fix of Melancholy is the fourth EP by Norwegian experimental collective Ulver. Produced in the Winter of 2002, the EP was issued on August 26, 2003 via Jester Records. Essentially a teaser for the forthcoming album, Blood Inside, A Quick Fix of Melancholy is delicate marriage of orchestration and electronica.

The text from “Vowels” is by Canadian author Christian Bök, taken from Eunoia (Coach House Books, 2002) and used with permission. “Eitttlane” is a rearrangement of “Nattleite” from 1996 album Kveldssanger.

Rygg commented in an interview with Modern Fix, “A Quick Fix of Melancholy was our way of trying to get back into writing songs—or something resembling songs—and also find out where we wanted to take things. I think after all our work with film, which is very kind of aesthetically fixed, you know. We ended up making Blood Inside.”

Critical Reception

Rating the EP 4/5, SputnikMusic comments, "For those who know Ulver well, you may be familiar with the ever-present state of identity crisis that seems to prey on Kristoffer Rygg’s musical mind, but to most, this state never ceases to satisfy. It is definitely clear that A Quick Fix… is a teaser for Blood Inside."

Aversionline.com rated the EP 7/10, commenting, “Opener "Little Blue Birds" clearly states that this EP is a lot different than the last few, what with its orchestral synths and operatic vocals.”

Webzine Global Domination rated the EP 10/10, commenting, “There are moments of a general upbeat/pensive nature, most of this is very downhearted music, sometimes shifting towards the downright depressing. Instruments include drums, violins, cellos, chimes of some sort, trumpets, a whole bunch of other shit that at times incites a euphoric kind of dreaminess, at others just really gets you down. All together everything forms a sublime masterpiece.”

John Chedsey, writing for webzine, Satan Stole My Teddybear, concluded, “This is so far one of the most impressive feats for Ulver, showing they are doing nothing but growing within their chosen musical pursuit. Music is indeed an extension of one's inner expressions and Ulver seems to have tapped into a musical vein that not many are aware of. The growing skill in which Ulver is putting together their music is quite impressive and this EP is making me salivate at the thought of future releases.”