Alternativ Quartet
Cluj-Napoca–based post-rock ensemble exploring cinematic soundscapes & fragile experiments.
Major 2023 cultural tour: National Museum of Art (MNAR – Bucharest), the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR – Bucharest), the Palace of Culture (Palatul Culturii Iași), and Tranzit House (Cluj-Napoca) reaffirming their singular presence in Romania’s underground scene.
Currently on hiatus.
One of the earliest Romanian bands to delve in post rock compositions and engage in fragile experiments, Alternativ Quartet was formed in the late 2000s in Cluj-Napoca and has since released several albums which follow their ongoing development as both musicians and lyricists.
The band emerged in 2023 after a long hiatus with two new releases: Deocadată suntem / Departe de solstițiu, that redefined both their style and presence, expanding their performance with multiple collaborations and a fresh production.
History:
2008—2013: Beginnings
Alongside bands such as Fluturi pe Asfalt and The: Egocentrics, Alternativ Quartet ventured to add a new layer to the Romanian underground musical scene, where echoes of post rock and post metal began to appear. From Sigur Rós inspired compositions like “Nu uita că te aștept” and “Când nu cânt” to unique compositions like “Moscova”, “Liniștea astupă goluri” and “Sunet prea dactil”, the band tried to lend a personal voice to the music from which they drew their inspiration. Grounded in their surrounding ethos, they mixed the then existing wave of post rock bands (ranging from Mogwai to Isis) with traditional Romanian harmonies as can be heard on songs like “Apocnis vitro” and the great part of their second album Aripi.
2013—2019: Hiatus + Iglu
Their later metamorphosis into the alias Iglu, under which they released the more personal album Stasis, marked a moment of revival after a long hiatus: an even more cinematic album which expresses the tension between an intimate closeness and an abandoned distance.
2020—2023: A new beginning
The year 2023 opened a second chapter for the band with two new LPs: Deocamdată suntem and Departe de solstițiu. With a more expensive production and more contemporary in their composition, the albums take a significant turn from guitars towards synthesizers, brass instruments, vintage organs and classical percussion offering the 14 tracks a dense monumental sound. “From Doom to Autotune”.
In December 2023, they embarked on a special cultural tour across Romania’s most emblematic venues, including the National Museum of Art (MNAR – Bucharest), the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR – Bucharest), the Palace of Culture (Palatul Culturii Iași), and Tranzit House (Cluj-Napoca), reaffirming their place as a singular voice in the country’s underground scene.
Currently on hiatus, Alternativ Quartet remains a band whose music continues to resonate long after the final note. As in the past, they will return in their own time — with a new sound, a new concept, and the same unmistakable presence that has made each of their rare concerts worth the wait.