The Petrified Forest

Released in 2017, The Petrified Forest is a conceptual mini-album by Geir Jenssen, better known as Biosphere. While Jenssen is globally recognized for defining 'Arctic Ambient' with his 1997 masterpiece Substrata, this release sees him exploring a more cinematic and narrative-driven palette. The album is heavily informed by the 1936 film 'The Petrified Forest' starring Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart. Jenssen utilizes dialogue and atmospheric cues from the film, weaving them into a tapestry of downtempo rhythms and hazy synth pads. This approach mirrors his earlier work on 'Autour de la Lune', but with a focus on the American noir aesthetic rather than space exploration. Critically, the album was praised for its ability to evoke a specific sense of place and time while maintaining the hypnotic, loop-based minimalism that is a hallmark of the Biosphere sound. It stands as a testament to his versatility, proving he can evoke the sweltering, psychological tension of the desert just as effectively as the frozen isolation of the North Pole.