Genre/Influences: Cinematic, Ambient, Minimal-Electro.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: French Charlot brothers are mainly known for their involvement with Maninkari while they also released material as Sphyxion. They now strike back with the more minimal driven Indalaska. This new work has been released -for the very first time, by Zoharum and features four tracks

Content: The composition and global approach became less Experimental than previous releases -and especially the debut album. We get an invitation to visit a cinematic sound universe built up with ominous synth sounds. The work is dark and features icy, sound treatments. I also noticed a somewhat Eastern-like sound atmosphere running through one of the cuts.

+ + + : The Cinematic style is empowered by a very strong visual appeal which comes directly through. The opening -also the longest one, brings us directly into this Cinematic mood but the best cuts are coming next. “Transfixition” and “Le Bleu Superstition” both excel in icy sound treatments and obscure atmospheres revealing the true potential of the project. I like the way the tracks have been built up.

– – – : The work is maybe missing a total climax which however that is common with this kind of music.

Conclusion: I’d reservations after the debut album but quite progressively Indalaska has improved most elements of the production while founding their own style.

Best songs: “Transfixition”, “Le Bleu Superstition”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/Maninkari-599436470187048

Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum

About Indalaska

Indalaska is the third project of French brothers Frédéric and Olivier Charlot, best known for the soundtrack-influenced Maninkari and the synthwave-leaning Sphyxion. Indalaska moves into drone and ambient territory, with releases including “Poésie surnaturelle” (2018), “Tempus fugit” (2019, with Alio Die) and “Oeuvre lunaire” (2020). “Musique Des Sables” is the brothers’ first release for Zoharum, limited to 250 CD copies in an ecopack sleeve.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental, Ritual, Cinematic.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Frédéric and Olivier Charlot -who are also involved with other projects like Sphyxion, are back on track unleashing a new opus of Maninkari.They already released several albums but this is their third one on Zoharum.

Content: The work features 4 songs which have been progressively built up by the mix of authentic instruments and electronic treatments. The viola injects a deeply, atmospheric, darkness to the work while the rhythmic make it all sound Ritual.

+ + + : I like Maninkari for their authenticity, the use of acoustic instruments not only adding an artistic touch to the work but also a poignant, atmospheric, touch. The title song is a true masterpiece whereon the Charlot brothers have found a perfect balance between the different instruments. The viola is absolutely terrific here. You also can notice improvised passages but the work remains constantly accessible.

– – – : It needs a few minutes before you totally get into the poignant sonic universe of Maninkari. So you better be a little bit patient.

Conclusion: Subtle improvisation with a styled, acoustic, touch on top.

Best songs: “Un Phénomène De Reliance”, “Aion”.  

Rate: 7½. 

Artist: www.maninkari.fr / www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064099080934

Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum

About Maninkari

Maninkari is the ritual and dark ambient project of French brothers Frédéric and Olivier Charlot, also known for their work as Sphyxion. The Charlot brothers gained wider recognition through a collaboration with Alio Die on the album “Tempus Fugit”.

“Un Phénomène De Reliance” is Maninkari’s third album for the Polish label Zoharum.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Minimal-Electro, Cinematographic, Experimental.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: TheFrench brothers Frédéric and Olivier Charlot (also involved with the great Maninkari-project) are back on track, unleashing their third album of Sphyxion.

Content: Sphyxion is totally different to Maninkari. It remains a Minimal-Electro experience, which even moves a step further on “3”. The work becomes more Experimental, often driven by the simple power of cold, electronic sequences with a darker edge. There’re tracks with rhythms, which are more accessible and others without, which create a Cinematographic sensation.

+ + + : “3” sounds like Electronic music composed in a lab. The musicians became a kind of sonic scientists. I personally prefer the songs driven by some rhythm, but I also like the passages with strings on top. The track “29” appears to be the highlight; a song with a great, mysterious atmosphere, but still with subtle sound arrangements. Another attention grabber is “27” for its rhythmic mixed with cold sequences.

– – – : “3” is more Experimental than its predecessor so I’m missing the more explicit IDM-touch revealed at “2”. These cuts are more fragmented and unaccomplished.

Conclusion: Sphyxion remains an interesting project, but I would not recommend discovering the band with this latest opus, which is too Experimental for my taste.

Best songs: “29”, “27”.

Rate: 6½.

Artist: https://sphyxion.bandcamp.com

Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental, cinematographic, ambient.

Background/Info: Indalaska is a new project set up by the brothers Frédéric and Olivier Charlot. You maybe know them from the ritual-like project Maninkari while they’re also involved with the IDM-inspired Sphyxion. “Poésie Surnaturelle” is the debut work from their newest project, which is available as a very limited (100 copies) cassette.

Content: “Poésie Surnaturelle” is an ambient voyage throughout experimental- and mainly minimalistic sound fields. The reason to this minimal approach is the use of restricted equipment. The songs are quite similar in tonalities while sharper sound treatments inject a colder touch. The sounds aren’t comparable to an organ and yet it reminds me of this magic and mainly baroque instrument.

+ + + : The least I can say is that the Charlot brothers are clearly interested in very different kinds of music although the influences remain somewhat related. I here like the icy sounds, which have something frightening and visual-like. Indalaska is a project with a very own sound much like their other projects.

– – – : The minimalism resulting from the lack of equipment also leads to similar tracks. This is an album I like for its first cuts, but it becomes a bit monotonous after a while.

Conclusion: I like the global approach and concept behind Indalaska, but –and from a very personal point of view, it’s the least fascinating project driven by the French brothers.

Best songs: “Poésie Surnaturelle – Part 1”, “Poésie Surnaturelle – Part 3”.

Rate: (6).

Artist: www.facebook.com/Maninkari-599436470187048

Label: http://ikuisuuslabel.blogspot.com / www.facebook.com/Ikuisuus

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental, minimal-electronics, IDM, electro-ambient.

Background/Info: Sphyxion is driven by the French brothers Frédéric and Olivier Charlot. You might know their main project Maninkari, devoted to ritual/industrial music. They’re now back on track unleashing the second work of Sphyxion.

Content: Sphyxion sounds more into minimal-electronics, but is still characterized by dark sound atmospheres. “2” features intriguing passages accomplished with great sound treatments and carried by a slow cadence. The other side of the album reveals a more ambient approach, which is sometimes joined by ritual elements. Notice by the way the tracks remained untitled.

+ + + : The minimal electro side is quite fascinating. Sphyxion there shows a great taste for electronic sounds and arrangements. The sound is minimal, but the procedure reveals a more sophisticated work. The opening cut is a cool track illustrating this sound. I also like the dark spheres hanging over the songs. It injects an anguishing flavor to the work.

– – – : A few more ambient-driven cuts aren’t exactly the most accomplished ones.

Conclusion: I think that next to Maninkari, Sphyxion also is an interesting exposure from the brothers Charlot. “2” reveals a mix of sound intelligence and obscure sonic moods.

Best songs: “1”, “2”, “10”, “6”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: https://sphyxion.bandcamp.com

Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Ritual, dark-ambient, experimental.

Background/Info: French brothers Frédéric and Olivier Charlot are active for more than 10 years now under the Maninkari moniker. They released multiple albums and got in touch with Polish label Zoharum, which previously re-released one of their works. The album “L’Océan Rêve Dans Sa Loisiveté” was originally released in 2014 on Three:Four Records. This opus is the follow-up featuring 9 untitled pieces.

Content: This is a fascinating listening revealing ritual drums mixed with authentic instruments. The authenticity is the main characteristic of this formation, which is using multiple instruments such as viola, cello, cimbalom, zurna, santoor, marimba ao, but still synths. Some of the songs remind a little bit to Dead Can Dance and Rajna for the mystic and somewhat Eastern-like atmospheres. Other cuts are more into experimentalism and minimal electronic treatments.

+ + + : Aside of the ritual aspect of the work, Maninkari stands for emotion. That’s precisely what the magic and authentic sound of viola and cello bring to the music. It also creates a part of mystery, which is recovering this work with a graceful layer. The use of authentic instruments also is something really special and that much more poignant than synths. There are several brilliant songs featured on this release and I especially want to commend the great final track.

– – – : Some cuts are more experimental-like, which resulted from the improvisation. That’s the single element, which isn’t always convincing me. It also is a pity the tracks are once more untitled.

Conclusion: I have to admit I wasn’t that familiar with Maninkari, but this new opus is a delicious and artistic piece of music. I like the authenticity of the work.

Best songs: “Untitled 9”, “Untitled 6”, “Untitled 1”, “Untitled 2”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: http://maninkari.fr / www.facebook.com/Maninkari-599436470187048

Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com