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

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Monika Subrtova is a Slovakian, female, artist living in London (UK). After a debut EP “Omnia” (2020) she released her debut album “Toon” by the end of last year on Next festival Records. The work is meant to be ‘chilly visions drawing on influences from 90s Electronica, Techno and film composition’.

Content: “Toon” features 6 cuts inviting the listener to discover a Minimal/Experimental Electronic sound universe driven by slow rhythms and Ambient string sections. The work is somewhat linear although featuring overwhelming passages.

+ + + : The opening cut “Lil Hai” is a cool track to discover the sound universe of the project. The instrumental edit of the album reinforces the Cinematic/Ambient vision which on the first track reminds me a bit of an instrumental version of Jonathan Bree. The main strength of the work emerges throughout the dark strings and cold arrangements sometimes creating a hostile sphere. Other recommended cuts are “Oren” and “Ef Hve”.

– – – : The instrumental edit is cool but a few spoken, vocal, lines and/or samplings could add a little bonus.

Conclusion: Pure minimalistic but an interesting discovery which I’m sure has more potential than what was exposed on “Toon”.

Best songs: “Lil Hai”, “Oren”, “Ef Hve”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551001614726

Label: www.nextfestival.sk / www.facebook.com/nextfestival

About Monika Subrtova

Monika Subrtova is a Slovakian-born electronic musician based in London, UK. She debuted with the EP “Omnia” in 2020, using sound synthesis and sampling built around the Elektron Rytm MK2 and Novation Peak.

Her debut album, “Toon,” followed on 16 October 2023 through Next Festival Records, a six-track record described as chilly visions drawing on influences from 90s electronica, techno and film composition.

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