Genre/Influences: Dark-soundscape, dark-ambient.
Background/Info: This is the debut album of Shedir. Behind this name is hiding a solo-project set up by the female Italian artist Martina Betti.
Content: “Falling Time” is characterized by a sound that moves in between dark-ambient and the soundscape genre. The tracks create a sensation of evasion, which is comparable to the picture on the front cover revealing a bird wafting in a grey sky. That’s precisely symbolizing the work of Shedir, which is also accomplished by more industrial- and drone-like passages.
+ + + : “Falling Time” is an album I’ve listen to several times. It has something atypical and that’s probably of the dreamy side, but behind this relaxing sensation is hiding a dark and anguished sound. It’s a sensible composition. I don’t really know if it’s because it has been composed by a woman –which is rather unique for this kind of music, but it’s different from the ‘usual’ releases in the genre. That’s already a sensation I had when discovering Protou (another dark-ambient project driven by a female artist). The tracks are well-crafted and I especially want to recommend “Reverse Thrust” and “Skyness” as most noticeable and accomplished cuts.
– – – : The unique style is the reason why I need several listening before I really get into this album. Some of the tracks are a bit similar and that’s maybe an element that can be improved on further work.
Conclusion: I’m intrigued by Shedir, which offers the listeners a dark and meditative opus. It’s relaxing, but you always can feel an invisible presence like a nearby danger that can hit you by surprise.
Best songs: “Reverse Thrust”, “Skyness”, “Nowhere To Be Found”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/martina.betti.60Label: www.cycliclaw.com / www.facebook.com/cycliclaw
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
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.
