Shedir – Falling Time (CD Album – Cyclic Law)

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 .60

Label: www .cycliclaw .com / www .facebook .com /cycliclaw

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