Reviewed by: RIPZ, November 2001
Occasionally an album comes out that
seems to be broken up into 2 completely different types of music. The
Russian band Romislokus's first release is one of these.
Between Two Mirrors begins as
a rather mellow bit of avant-garde electronica. With the silky laid back
feel of Roxy Music's late seventies sound mixed in with the trance
ambient stylings of electronica today, the songs flow forth in an easy
going flow.
Fans that find this sound appealing
will definitely enjoy this first half. The sound is far from being
progressive and the electronic drums may not appeal to fans of the
harder rock variations of prog rock.
On "The Mist", track 6, the band
suddenly changes direction. There's the hint of edgy guitar, flute
samples and a proggy riff. Plus the band places their viola to the
forefront. For the second half of the album, we suddenly hear a
transformation to the darker moods of experimental bands like After
Crying and the intellectual sound sculpting of earlier Brian Eno works.
The electronica plays second fiddle to a more analog streamlined sound.
The seven minute final track, "Three
Colors," explores all avenues of avant-garde music and with its
soft female vocals, maintains an accessibility and warmth.
When I put on Between Two Mirrors,
I find myself starting at this track and playing the CD to the end. And
I do it over and over again.
If you like electronica, and like
smoother, moodier sounds, Romislokus is a band who has put out an album
that is very original and should appeal to you.
Track Listing: Cold / The Wood Cutter
/ Give A Chance / Through The Love / The Thunderstorm Is Coming / The
Mist / Termites / Minute / Jackdaws / Three Colors
Musicians:
Evgeniy Gorelov - keyboards, vocals
Irina Yunakovskaya - cello
Mihail Voronov - guitars
Mijail Brovarnik - bass
Yuriy Smolnikov - guitar, vocals
Inna Galasheva - drums (8, 9)
Maksim Karavaev - computer effects (10)
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