Our job here at Start-Track is to convey to you, reader, the meaning of the music you might hear out there in the world, or at least to impress upon you the passion of the artists. So for “Ave Maria”, the debut single from Swedish group The Essence of the Universe, I refer you to the music video, showcasing about a half-dozen senior men jazzercising.
I’ve thought about that video a lot in the few weeks since it came through our submission box. In fact, I’ve thought about the entire vibe of this band. They say that when asked about their origins, the duo of Daniel di Porto Rosa and Nic Nikita say they met at an Anti-Kid Rock Convention in an unmarked conference room. They mention that di Porto Rosa may or may not belong to a shadowy organization known as the Gooseberry Revolution, while interstellar beings abducted Nikita and returned him changed, though he does not know how.
How can I not have more questions? For this reason, “Ave Maria” has haunted me. The blend of psychedelic pop and indie folk sounds both fresh and like a track from a blank cassette tape lost in 1993. The wordless yodeling in the chorus has a distinct melody that echoes in the far reaches of my mind in the witching hours. The lyrics praising and in fear of a beautiful woman – perhaps the titular mother Mary – pulse with a meter that itself carries meaning, even when the words give way to wordless utterings. And my God, that jazzercising! Why do I find it so hypnotic?
A phrase common on the band’s social media pages and their official bio says: “Come curious. Stay unsure. Leave a little changed.” I certainly accomplished all three of these things after listening to “Ave Maria”: I feel joy! I am at peace! I feel as though Mary herself has graced me with her spirit, and I haven’t walked into a church since my friend’s confirmation in 2007!
Given this band’s lore and the mystery behind their music, I feel they have a lot of passion left to share. Despite their effect on me, I won’t say if they’ve managed to capture the essence of the universe. Perhaps you should hear that for yourself.
Watch the music video for “Ave Maria” below. Please enjoy the jazzercising.
Written by Will Sisskind
