Electroacoustic
Nicolas Horvath composed a large number of pieces strongly influenced by Scriabin, Stockhausen, François Bayle and the late Liszt. Based on strong dissonances and complex contrapuntal structures, his electroacoustic compositions are a combination of disturbing and ethereal episodes, and dazzling exaltations.
Influenced by Eric Serra's soundtracks, it was in his teens that Nicolas Horvath began to take an interest in MIDI and electronic music, which he naively manipulated to create fake EVP. It was at the age of 18, thanks to the teachings of Gérard Frémy, that he discovered the music of our time.
At the age of 22, always eager for discoveries, Nicolas Horvath, in parallel with the curriculum of the École Normale de Musique de Paris, enrolled (1) in Stéphane Delplace's Harmony and Composition Class at the Paris 17th district Municipal Conservatory, (2) in Olivier Trachier's Medieval Counterpointclass and (3) in Corine Schneider's Music History superior degree class of the Conservatoire Superieur de Paris. Corine Schneider's classes were a revolution for him: he discovered the intricacies of electroacoustic music.
While the École Normale made him doubt his pianistic abilities, Nicolas Horvath discovered the experimental scene. Influenced by Scriabin's phantasmagorical mysticism and under the pseudonym Meldhkwis, he created two dark ambient musical projects: A.E.P., drone and meditative music, and Dapnom, his experimental counterpart.
Despite the success of his many Dark Ambient albums , Nicolas Horvath wanted to go further. He then joined Gino Favotti's electroacoustic composition class at the Conservatory of the Paris 20th district Municipal Conservatory, which also allowed him to follow François Bayle and Christian Zanesi's masterclasses. At the age of 28, he was accepted into Christine Groult's class at the Pantin Conservatory (CRD). He graduated two years later. During his 2nd year, he was selected to perform his own creations on the occasion of Bernard Parmegiani's 80th birthday. This teaching profoundly transformed his creations which were broadcasted on France Musique and the BBC's airwaves. These new creations marked a turning point for the composer who now assumes his work authorship by signing them with his name, N. Horvath. All his electroacoustics compositions reflects a deep inner work of elaboration and emancipation that has enabled him to become an accomplished artist.
2020
Compilation : Les Montagnes du Délire Sonore 6Cds + LP
6Cds + 1 Lp Compilation produced by Melek-Tha including 1 exclusive piece :
N.Horvath : Nameless Mist 23:28
Also a Melek-tha collaboration with Nicolas Horvath at the piano :
Eloge Mortuaire 13:05
label : auto-production
N. Horvath - 2001-2006 The Tapes years (6 cdrs) boxset
Re-edited in a box set of 6 cdrs of a selection of founding works. They trace the sonic evolution of N.Horvath's electroacoustic/dark ambient compositions. These musics have been published only in audio cassette and have been out of stock for more than a decade.
Includes a large number of previously unpublished works from the archives of N.Horvath.
N. Horvath: The Tapes years Vol.0: the first (unpublished) experiments
N. Horvath: The Tapes years Vol.1: A.E.P. demos
N. Horvath: The Tapes years Vol.2: The first Dapnom demos
N. Horvath: The Tapes years Vol.3: Dapnom's "De Profundis" cycle
N. Horvath: The Tapes years Vol.4: the end of Dapnom's cassette demos
N. Horvath: The Tapes years Vol.5: A.E.P."Soliloque" cycle
All the pieces were remastered in 2020.
label: self-production
With the exception of Vol.0, all other volumes can be purchased separately
2016
N. Horvath - Acedia
1 : N.Horvath, Légendaire 05:12
2 : N.Horvath, Mystérieusement murmuré 9:32
3 : N.Horvath, Avec une langueur naissante 10:28
4 : N.Horvath, Pur, limpide 9:48
5 : N.Horvath, Sombre mysterieux 8:06
6 : N.Horvath, Perfide 9:08
7 : N.Horvath, Avec une douceur de plus en plus caressante et empoisonnée 23:30
2 : N.Horvath, Mystérieusement murmuré 9:32
3 : N.Horvath, Avec une langueur naissante 10:28
4 : N.Horvath, Pur, limpide 9:48
5 : N.Horvath, Sombre mysterieux 8:06
6 : N.Horvath, Perfide 9:08
7 : N.Horvath, Avec une douceur de plus en plus caressante et empoisonnée 23:30
Label : Demerara Records
PlagueHaus Webzine
N.Horvath is a master at his craft. He’s a craftsman of sound as dynamic. More than any ambient musician I can think of, I savor each release and lust for the next. Being extremely prolific, there seems to be no end to the offerings. Lucky for us all…..
(J.)
Pan.O.Ra.Ma Webzine
7 interesting compositions containing elements navigating between dark ambient and industrial music. A very interesting album.
2014
N. Horvath - At the Mountains of Madness
Lovecraft Trilogy Vol.3
1 : N.Horvath, At the Mountains of Madness
60:04
Label : Valses Sinistres Productions
Band Names Not Brand Names webzine
Horrific sounds that take me to the darkest places in my mind. I love this CD but frankly, I’ll never listen to it if I’m trying to go to sleep
Nacht und Nebel Blog
Amonument to time stretching and conscious devouring ambience. This epic track is a massive hour long excursion that takes you deep into the black recesses of serpentine waters that compose the minds oceanic abyss.
This album has been out of stock for many years,
N. Horvath - The Dreams in the Witch-House
Lovecraft Trilogy Vol.2
1 : N.Horvath, 1st Dream 09:43
2 : N.Horvath, 2nd Dream 4:21
3 : N.Horvath, 3rd Dream 7:12
4 : N.Horvath, 4th Dream 3:45
5 : N.Horvath, 5th Dream 12:05
6 : N.Horvath, 6th Dream 7:11
2 : N.Horvath, 2nd Dream 4:21
3 : N.Horvath, 3rd Dream 7:12
4 : N.Horvath, 4th Dream 3:45
5 : N.Horvath, 5th Dream 12:05
6 : N.Horvath, 6th Dream 7:11
7 : N.Horvath, 7th Dream 8:49
Label : Valses Sinistres Productions
N. Horvath - Twilight Amorphousness of the Vague Abysses
Lovecraft Trilogy Vol.1
1 : N.Horvath, Twilight Amorphousness of the Vague
Abysses
28:07
Label : Valses Sinistres Productions
This album has been out of stock for many years,
2015
Compilation - This is Tomorow Calling
Compilation of Demerara Records including 1 exclusive musical work by Nicolas Horvath
18 : N.Horvath, Praeludia Lucis NoctisXVII
7:11
Aha / La Tentation d'exister
Artist's edition limited to 33 copies including a vinyl disc consisting of a text written and read by Maurice Benhamou and an exclusive work by Nicolas Horvath as well as a facsimile of Jean Degottex's Horsphere.
N.Horvath, La Tentation d'exister
6:39
Label : AH AH AH Éditions
– Le Bruit De La Conversation
2011
Dapnom - Paralipomènes à la Divine Comédie
1 : Dapnom, Repentance
12:18
2 : Dapnom, Supplication 7:06
3 : Dapnom, Contemplation
8:31
ghost tracks :
pistes 4 à 32 aucun son
pistes 33 à 64 :
Dapnom, sans titre, durées identiques
0:18 (X31)
65 : Dapnom, sans titre
3:00
66 : Dapnom, Action de Grâce
22:07
Label : Mors Ultima Ratio
Abus Dangereux zine ****
Denebtala.wordpress.com
Paralipomenes is no more "black on black" than a record of New Risen Throne or Atrium Carceri - I will even tend to say that it is less so, because more varied - it is simply smarter, more subtle, more structured, more original and therefore more efficient, whatever you want to find there.(Deneb-tala)
2008
Dapnom - Omnium Finis Imminent (split with Melek-tha)
1 (CD2) : Dapnom, The Perpetual Sacrifice
9:15
2 (CD2) : Dapnom, Persecutions & Tortures
13:24
3 (CD2) : Dapnom, Misère Noire 9:04
4 (CD2) : Dapnom, Famine 14:45
5 (CD2) : Dapnom, The 7 Trumpets 5:30
6 (CD2) : Dapnom, The abomination of desolation 17:12
7 (CD2) : Dapnom, Les Ténèbres vont Régner 8:54
3 (CD2) : Dapnom, Misère Noire 9:04
4 (CD2) : Dapnom, Famine 14:45
5 (CD2) : Dapnom, The 7 Trumpets 5:30
6 (CD2) : Dapnom, The abomination of desolation 17:12
7 (CD2) : Dapnom, Les Ténèbres vont Régner 8:54
Label :
Fire Of Fire Records
2007
A.E.P. - 6 Praeludia Lucis Noctis (split with Vinterriket)
1 : A.E.P., I
2:58
2 : A.E.P., II
3:45
3 : A.E.P., III
3:08
4 : A.E.P., IV
7:26
5 : A.E.P., V
2:54
6 : A.E.P., VI
2:07
Label : Asphyxiate Recordings
Friedhof magazine
Highly recommended
Black Devotion webzine
In addition to the ambient dark, there are noisy elements that help to generate an atmosphere of ill-being, of fear... Moreover, the samples are far from being glued in a random way, everything follows in evolution and logic, and it feels like a kind of Aghast, without the vocals, more ethereal, but still as spectral, black, and abysmal ... (Stryg )
A.E.P. - Kâmarûpa (split with Black Seas Of Infinity)
1 : A.E.P., Kâmarûpa
17:08
3 : A.E.P. & Seth-Eru, Betwixt The Words Of The Dark Grammar... Lies The Gate Of The Secret Horizon
9:42
Label : Sonic Tyranny Production
Plaguehaus Webzine
A very interesting split by two equally interesting projects, definitely worth seeking out. (J.)
Dapnom - Actes Préalables
1 : Dapnom, Tombeau Sur Le Nom De Scriabine
9:02
2 : Dapnom, Ert Bvrueazv
22:48
3 : Dapnom, C16H12FN2O3
22:48
4 : Dapnom, S'ohö... Aiÿ Uhè En-öghg
23:43
Label :
Insidious Poinsoning Records
The Sentinels of Time
Magnetic and terrifying (Gasp)
2006
Dapnom - Verklärte Nacht
1 : Dapnom, Verklärte Nacht
61:46
Label : Sonic Tyranny Records
Plaguehaus
Verklärt Nacht is the soundtrack to your nightmares. One track clocking in at just over an hour, it’s a mind-bending journey into the darkest recesses of your being (...)
One of the best in the genre and a must own.
Compilation - Mind Control
1 : Dapnom, C16h12fn2o3
22:48
4 : A.E.P., G6K2 Klrk
2:19
More Than Sounds
A rather minimalist and claustrophobic ambient music. No melody, no sample "easy" ... The whole thing is composed of atmospheres and ascents of abstract sounds... We take turns printing claustrophobia, being tied up and locked in the trunk of a car driving all the way down the highway.... As the space time moves in slow motion... We see some visions of old kitsch nightmares dating back to the 50s and 60s...
Label : Sonic Tyrrany Production