TriO & Sainkho: Forgotten Streets of St. Petersburg

But one thing has not changed; her vocals still sound as extraordinary, alien, and strange as ever—in fact, more than ever, as she has expanded her range of techniques. She is a vocalist of great range and great extremes; she frequently produces sounds that suggest she is experiencing demonic possession, torture, or orgasm, sometimes all three simultaneously. But such extreme vocal effects alternate with soaring pure tones that deliver the most beautiful of melodies. On "Seven Corners Wind she demonstrates her full range, switching from throat-aching guttural sounds to soaring soprano and back again in an instant.

TriO is an almost perfect setting for Namchylak's voice. The group's music is full of drama, tension, and atmosphere which complement and offset the drama of her vocals. The soloing on a variety of wind instruments is beguilingly melodic, with Sergey Letov's baritone repeatedly grabbing attention. Namchylak takes the role of soloist alongside the other members of the trio, but her contributions are so dramatic (and extreme) that she never fails to steal the limelight.

This album takes the prize for the most dully depressing cover photo of the year so far—a muddy, rutted back street without any human presence (presumably one of the forgotten streets of the title). Do not be deterred by it; the music within is joyful and quite extraordinary.

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