Cluster Lizard – Star Corsair (Album – Prostir)
Genre/Influences: Soundtrack, Cinematographic, Ambient-Techno.
Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.
Background/Info: “Star Corsair” is the third album by the Ukrainian duo –based in Berlin, Dmytro Fedorenko – Kateryna Zavoloka. After the previous work they were considering how their next album should sound-like and started listening to their favorite Soundtracks. It brought them to the idea of writing an imaginary soundtrack for the “Star Corsair”-book written by Ukrainian sci/fi writer, philosopher, and dissident Oles Berdnyk.
Content: Cluster Lizard took some distance with previous works, leaving the Industrial influence away and focusing on a pure Soundtrack approach. It resulted in a fusion between darker Electronic sounds and pure space-like Ambient reverie with some Technoid elements on top. Rhythms are regularly joining in to get the Ambient side a bit danceable.
+ + + : Cluster Lizard doesn’t exactly repeat themselves and that’s an aspect I always highly appreciate. A Soundtrack isn’t always the most accessible format to conquer a wider audience, but this duo always has an intelligent writing and approach. The mix of influences makes the album more accessible, creating a feeling of dark reverie. The concept is great and has been transposed into alluring sound treatments revealing the magic of good-old analog effects and overwhelming sound blasts. I also like the spooky sphere hanging over the work.
– – – : The album is missing a true climax, which isn’t easy to reach with this kind of concept. The concept has maybe reduced the talented duo to do something different from their previous productions –and side-projects, so in the end it all sounds like a true challenge.
Conclusion: “Star Corsair” sounds like an ode to a book, which had a deep impact on both protagonists; Ambient music for further generations!
Best songs: “Free Will And Command”, “Multibalance And Immensity”, “The Drop Reflects The Ocean Itself”.
Rate: 7½.
Artist: https://clusterlizard.com / www.facebook.com/cluster.lizard
Label: https://prostir.art / www.facebook.com/prostir.art
About Cluster Lizard
Cluster Lizard is the duo of Ukrainian electronic musicians Dmytro Fedorenko, who also records as Kotra, and Kateryna Zavoloka. Both are based in Berlin, and the duo’s albums appear on the Prostir label.
The pair debuted with “Edge Of The Universe” in 2017, followed by the CD album “Prophecy” on Prostir in 2018. “Star Corsair” arrived in 2021 as their third album, issued in digital, CD and vinyl formats, and “Herts” followed in 2025.
Side-Line spoke with Zavoloka about her solo work in a 2019 Click Interview with Zavoloka.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
