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String Forces: Silky Way
BySilky Way marks another step forward for String Forces. Just like these players radically changed their complete sound during the transition from the first to the second album, they have completely changed their sound for this release, delving even deeper into electronic music. The band delivers textural ambience, synthetic sounds, fluid baselines, world music tinges and ethereal vocals over a wide expanse of driving pulsating drums, generated either electronically or acoustically by a new member, drummer Mishko Parushev.
Guided by sound visionary Dorijan Jovanovic, String Forces has created a collage of electronic soundscapes which echo the works of Bill Laswell, Fripp and Kraftwerk; other dark ambient artists can be heard. At times these compositions fall into linear moods, but the music elegantly balances between sensibility, technique and technology. The concept ranges from ethereal instrumentals (all having coordinates instead of regular "mystical titles) to pop songs. Some of the highlights are "Preku Ezerata (Over the Lakes) and (especially) "Skriena Ubavina (Hidden Beauty), where singer Aleksandra Mangarovska enunciates her words above a spooky, soothing ambiance.
Silky Way is a hypnotic and modern record which pays great attention to detail. Perhaps a few listeners may miss some of the rough edges that typified Izohronia, but the overall feeling on Silky Way is like a soundtrack for a documentary, with a hint of mystery and intrigue thrown in.
Track Listing
Aether; 85 50' S 65 47' E, part 1; 85 50' S 65 47' E, part 2; If nobody plays; 85 50' S 65 47' E, part 3; 85 50' S 65 47' E, part 4; Etude nr. 2 (for stick, viola and cello); 85 50' S 65 47' E, part 5; Thousand Colours; 85 50' S 65 47' E, part 6; One breath; 85 50' S 65 47' E, part 7; Hidden Beauty; 85 50' S 65 47' E, part 8; I am You; 85 50' S 65 47' E, part 9; Do ezerata.
Personnel
Dorian Jovanovi?: stick, oud, samples, programming and noise, lyrics; Aleksandra Mangaroska Mili?evi?: vocals, flute lyrics; Alfrida Tozieva: viola, vocals; Aleksandar Stojanov: vocals, lyrics, guitar; Ivica Jankulovski: sound, samples, programming.
Album information
Title: Silky Way | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Profundus
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