|
Melodie Des Vergessens
CD-R (ltd. 77) |
Melodie Des Vergessens was formed by Igor 'The Ghost' Tumanniy in 2012 in Volgograd, Russia, and the idea of the project was based on the processed sound of a live accordion. With this instrument Igor recorded several experimental dark ambient albums notable for particular surrealistic sound and detached atmosphere of loneliness. The project ceased its existence in January 2017 with the death of the author.
The accordion is not the most convenient instrument to carry but Igor recorded the material for this work in summer 2015 alone with nature, in thickets of forests and swamps, while later working on it in his mobile studio. This resulted in six dissociative dark ambient compositions in which abstract textures morph into harmonic consonances, get overgrown by viscous layers of electronic processings and turn into rhythmic patterns created from looped acoustic noises. Often one can hear the characteristic timbre of the instrument, but sometimes it transforms into something chemically otherworldly as if coming from another dimension. Here one can feel the subtle personal moments when one's left alone with himself, surrounded by dark woods and looking in the abysmal mirror of infinity.
The recording was originally published in 2016 as a web-release by Eternal Return Records, but for this reissue the author considered making new mastering to fully reveal all the details of sound. Mastering was done by Ralax @ Coiled Ear Studio. This edition is made on quality pro-CDRs, packed in designer cardboard sleeves and limited to 77 numbered copies. Digital version is available on bandcamp.
Reviews
Igor ‘The Ghost’ Tumanniy started Melodie Des Vergessens in 2012 in Volgograd, Russia and the idea was to use the sound of a live accordion. As I was copying this bit of information from the information sheet I was thinking why his nickname would be ‘the ghost’, but then I reached the end of information I read that on January 10 of this year he committed suicide in his home in Moscow. He released a bunch of albums on CDR and in the digital domain. In 2015 he recorded this album, mainly in the countryside but doing also work in his mobile studio. The accordion is not the most ordinary of instruments, even when Pauline Oliveros’ work springs to mind, and with the amount of live processing that Tumanniy applies to the original sound it is also not always easy to recognize the instrument, should that of course be something you want. Through loops and all sorts of other electronics means (reverb, delay, the whole foot pedal collection) the music that Tumanniy creates is quite ambient but not necessarily of the cleanest proportions. The result is quite forceful at times, but at the same times also lovingly spacious. Underneath there is an occasional thumb or beat, but mostly it contains massive soundscapes. Lots of shifting of tones takes place, back and forth, up and down and inside to outside and back again. It is perhaps not something you stick on for a fine time of meditation, but it might make you on a most pleasant head-trip, while fully conscious. Very good and sad to know there won’t be more of this.
Melodie des Vergessens is a project of Igor 'The Ghost' Tumanniy, which began in 2012. Unfortunately, he's dead now having committed suicide in Moscow early this year. All music is based on post-processing of live sound of the accordion, sampledelics in small quantities, and some compositions have vocals. Although he has a number of other releases, this is the only one I've heard. 'Palustre Genesis' is a very strange affair, beginning with the mysterious Druid-like figure on the cover, which could very well be Igor. In five tracks of 41 minutes length, you're certainly not going to hear anything that sounds like "accordion music". According to the Zhelezobeton one-sheet - "Igor recorded the material for this work in the summer of 2015, alone with nature, in thickets, forests and swamps, while later working on it in his mobile studio, This resulted in six disassociative dark ambient compositions in which abstract textures morph into harmonic consonances, get overgrown by viscous layers of electronic processings and turn into rhythmic patterns created from looped acoustic noises. Often one can hear the characteristic timbre of the instrument, but sometimes it transforms into something chemically otherworldly as if coming from another dimension. Here one can feel the subtle personal movements when one is left alone with himself, surrounded by dark woods and looking in the abysmal mirror of infinity."
I couldn't have described that better myself, hence the quote. This is far removed from typical dark ambient, perhaps DA filtered through experimental electro-acoustical manipulations, and no two tracks sound the same, or remotely similar. The only track that seemed to have anything remotely sounding like an accordion was #5 -"Trepidation". Still, it is fairly atypical. There is a sense of unease woven throughout this album which makes it all the more disturbing. Even when there is not a lot happening the atmosphere seems dense and encompassing. There is also a vague sense of ritualism. It is unknowable now what Igor was striving to realize, so it is left to the imagination of the listener. For me, this could be the aural equivalent of a DMT trip, and not necessarily a pleasant one. But all experiences have their benefits and drawbacks, and perhaps with repeated listenings more can be gleaned "from the other side" on this recording. Strictly limited to 77 hand-numbered copies.
Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, dark-ambient, experimental.
Background/Info: Russian artist Igor Tumanniy started making music in 2012. His music is based on ‘post-processing of live sound of the accordion’. He already released considerable number of productions on different labels. This opus got first digitally released in 2016 on Eternal Return Records and got a CDR-issue in 2017 on Zhelezobeton.
Content: You clearly can hear the sound of the accordion, which remains a very unique sound often linked to folk music and chanson. Melodie Des Vergessens use it an experimental way achieving the compositions with electronic treatments and field recordings. It all together creates a haunting universe reflecting tortured minds and a feeling of isolation.
+ + + : “Palustre Genesis” makes me think to a ‘horror’ soundscape. The tracks have been progressively built up with an impressive sound canvas. The visual character of the work accentuates the impact of the music, creating feelings of angst and simply horror. You get the impression of being lost in endless sonic corridors, sometimes joined by a few drones. The sphere is icy and tormented, which both are essential keywords for any great dark-ambient production.
- - - : You don’t hear me complaining, but it remains an extreme sound sensation accentuated by experimentalism. That makes the work not that accessible for a wider audience, but I’m afraid it’s not really the purpose of this kind of recording.
Conclusion: I experienced this album as a sophisticated artistic exposure from a creative musician. This is the kind of album deserving a wider recognition from the dark-ambient scene.
Best songs: “Genesis I”, “Genesis II: Stun”, “Genesis III”.
Rate: (8).
|
|
© 2002-2022
Radionoise.ru |