Whalesong – Leaving A Dream (Album – Zoharum)
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Genre/Influences: Industrial, Apocalyptic-Rock, Experimental.
Format: Digital, 2CD.
Background/Info: Polish sonic project Whalesong has been active since 2009. The band is driven by Michal Kielbasa (vocals, guitars, lap steel guitar, bass, hammered dulcimer, tubular bells, vibes, mellotron, keys, lyra8, theremin, gong, percussion, zither, sitar, violin), Grzegorz Zawadzki (drums, percussion), Piotr Dziemski (guitars) and Elise Aranguren (vocals). This new opus has been accomplished by an impressive number of guest artists.
Content: The main disc stands for the ‘true’ face of Whalesong; a heavy, overwhelming, production moving from a Dark-Ambient opening cut to apocalyptic, Industrial-Rock music. Guitar and drums are often reminding me of early Swans. The few cuts featuring female vocals reveal a softer and even ‘catchy’ Industrial side. The second disc holds on similar influences as the main disc although it’s more Experimental and even touches ground with a kind of Free-Jazz style.
+ + + : I especially salute the multi-instrumentalism of this project and its core member Michal Kielbasa. Together with the multiple guest musicians it creates an impressive sonic canvas. I prefer the darker passages and especially the way guitar and drums create an uplifting effect. “Leaving A Dream” is a great track to experience -which also sounds like ‘Film-Noir’-music but I also recommend the more ‘catchy’ sounding “Hope”. From the second disc I enjoyed “From The Ashes” which also has this elevating effect.
– – – : Some parts are quite cacophonous and sound like improvised. I’m less into this complexity and Experimentalism.
Conclusion: This work reminds me to early Industrial experiments from the 80s.
Best songs: “Leaving A Dream”, “Hope”, “From The Ashes”.
Rate: 7½.
Artist: www.facebook.com/whalesongofficial
Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum Read the news on ‘Leaving A Dream’.
About Whalesong
Whalesong is a Polish sonic collective founded in 2009 and driven by multi-instrumentalist Michal Kielbasa, alongside Grzegorz Zawadzki on drums and percussion, Piotr Dziemski on guitars, and vocalist Elise Aranguren. “Leaving A Dream”, the project’s third album, was released by Zoharum in cooperation with Old Temple on 14 July 2023, spanning two CDs and over 120 minutes. Guests on the record include Attila Csihar of Mayhem and Sunn O))), Steve Blanco of Imperial Triumphant, Wukir Suryadi of Senyawa, and Miro Snejdr.
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