I EAT THE SUN AND DRINK THE RAIN is a work for choir and live electronics. Sven Helbig has created a concept album in which he appears both as composer and as author of almost all the song texts. Over the course of ten pieces he weaves a loose narrative that addresses pressing questions of the present day. The powerfully resonant work suspends delicate choral passages above pulsating synthesizers. Sublime a cappella chords spread out above digitally created sounds, in perfect balance between choir and electronics. I EAT THE SUN AND DRINK THE RAIN builds upon the musical principles underlying POCKET SYMPHONIES and POCKET SYMPHONIES ELECTRONICA. Folk-influenced pieces ABENDGLÜHEN / red sky at night) are set alongside subtle harmonic complexes in the manner of Arvo Pärt (KYRIE) and minimalistic drone music (GEDENKEN / remembrance).
The recording was made with Vocalconsort Berlin under the direction of the eminent conductor Kristjan Järvi. Helbig is continuing the artistic partnership with Järvi that was established with his POCKET SYMPHONIES. Vocalconsort Berlin is regarded as one of the best and most versatile choirs in Germany.
In the ten episodes of I EAT THE SUN AND DRINK THE RAIN Sven Helbig describes the human soul as part of nature. He sends the listener on a poetic journey in search of the human dimension in a world overtaken by technology. Without sounding preachy, he raises such questions as: Where do human beings stand in a world of artificial intelligence? What will happen to interpersonal relationships in an era of digital alienation? How are we to live if we plunder our environment and destroy it ourselves?
The Italian philosopher and author Giacomo Leopardi raised similar questions back in the nineteenth century. His poem L’INFINITO is the only foreign-language text (apart from the traditional KYRIE ELEISON and AGNUS DEI) in I EAT THE SUN AND DRINK THE RAIN.
The song that gives the work its title, COMO EL SOL (I EAT THE SUN) is conceived as a hymn extolling the vision of a fulfilled life.
I EAT THE SUN AND DRINK THE RAIN is going on tour as a live project. The visuals are by Icelandic artist Máni Sigfussen, who did the imagery for Ólafur Arnalds and Kiasmos. The choir was fitted with costumes specially designed for them by Berlin fashion artist Esther Perbandt.