Audiopile Review: More ghostly atmospherics from Gothenburg duo Arv & Miljö, who first issued this as a CDr a couple years back, now extended and slightly reworked for this vinyl pressing. The album is centred around samples taken from actions and documentaries of Earth First and Earth Liberation Front, two groups who have been dedicated to the disruption of the earth destroying industries plaguing our planet. The duo’s lo-fi tapestry of droning electronics and wavering ambience is punctured by the defiant voices of their subjects, with the sounds of a forest awaking at dawn adding a potent gravitas to the two side-long tracks. On paper this all seems ripe for a bit of a downer listen, though it’s actually life affirming once you break through to the other side. The conviction of the activists and clips of their victories heard across both sides are deeply inspiring, a beacon of hope in a time that seems fucking hopeless at times, a pointed plea to not give up. Edition of 500.

An emotionally charged and bizarrely evocative look at radical environmental advocacy groups, mainly Earth First! and Earth Liberation Front, channeled through the memories of the Swedish Plogbill-movement and their actions throughout the early 90’s. Monologue, snippets of interview segments, protest songs and site recordings are mixed up with the rather raw kosmische synth music Arv & Miljö has explored during the last couple of years. The result is a mesmerizing and multi-faceted audio collage; charmingly disorienting and chaotic but also harmonic and oddly soothing. Ultimately, Jorden Först is not so much about a certain cause or organization as it is about dedication, passion and the spirit of change.

Originally released as a very limited CDr on Förfall in 2021, Jorden Först was quickly hailed as one of the absolute highlights in the vast Arv & Miljö discography among the ones that heard it. The recording was extended and slightly reworked and remixed for vinyl in July 2022.

Printed on brown kraftboard covers with insert. Mastered by Lasse Marhaug.