ATB, Ecstasy

“But, at this juncture, when the will is most imperiled, art approaches, as a redeeming and healing enchantress; she alone may transform these horrible reflections on the terror and absurdity of existence into representations with which man may live. These are the representation of the sublime as the artistic conquest of the awful, and of the comic as the artistic release from the nausea of the absurd. The satyric chorus of the dithyramb is the saving device of Greek art."



Throughout his essay, Nietzsche constantly creates problems for Greek culture and art that he then solves with either the Apollonian or Dionysian element, or both, depending on the context. ATB’s Ecstasy portrays Nietzsche’s conviction that the Dionysian revelation cannot stand alone. Here, the Apollonian element helps reveal the essence of Dionysus by transforming the song’s enigmatic instrumental into an artistic phenomenon in the form of its accompanying lyrics. The upbeat tone, crisp layering, and memorable intro allow the listener to rise beyond consciousness and experience a connection to the primordial unity. However, the lyrics add a description of the feelings the song evokes and provides a sort of guideline for us to follow when listening to this song.