Sometime in 2004 Grundik & Slava released one of the most beguiling, intriguing and absolutely beautiful releases titled ?…For Electronics and Birds’ on the Russian Stateart Record label. It should have sold tons. In truth…probably no-one went out and bought it. The mixture of experimental and avant-garde electronic pieces to be found on there can be a daunting prospect for those not accustomed to such music. Mores the pity. ?frogs’ is follow up to that release…and if anything is even more experimental in structure. Slava Smelovsky and Grundik Kasyansky have created a atmospheric world where nature intertwines with the real and imaginary. Here field recordings are mixed with the sounds of singing and other noises / samples and are delicately blended to create exquisite electronic panoramas. Exploring different effects and sound sources they move from the easily accessible to the unfathomable within the blink of an eye. Part improv, part electro-acoustic, part drone, part neo-folk (ish), part melodic they continually challenge the listeners perceptions, almost daring…nay double daring, them to second guess where the music will go next. You never will. The artists themselves didn’t as they state that ?there were no compositional or conceptual limits to the work’ thus giving them the freedom to let their artistic vein flow. And flow the music does. From a slightly oppressive soundscape bathed in darkness to the washing of the sea on a shore this fantastical musical journey lays its own path guided by the artists fair hands. Not everyone will understand what ?frogs’ is about. Not everyone will appreciate the diversity of its challenging music. Only those with an inquisitive and open mind should investigate ?frogs’. For there is much hidden gems to uncover if patience be your virtue. And of course…this comes highly recommended to those who bought ?…For Electronics and Birds’. They will not be disappointed by this follow up.
moreSimilar Posts:
- Октябрь 2, 2006: Haimdallr, Frogs, Winter 2006
Released in March 2005 as a joint effort between the two labels Auris Media and Topheth Propheth, ‘Frogs’ of the Israeli-American electronic duo Grundik+Slava is the direct follow-up (and the second instalment in the ‘Fauna’ series) to ‘… for electronic and birds’ (out on State Art a couple of years ago).
As suggested by
- Июнь 2, 2006: Gothtronic, Frogs
After “For electronics and birds” the album “Frogs” is the second in Grundik + Slava’s fauna series. As the title presumes, all the music is dedicated to frogs. The titles of the songs enhance this presumption even more. As on it’s predesessor “For electronics and birds” the electronic music is amplified by sound of
- Октябрь 2, 2005: Aural pressure, Frogs
Being aware of, but having not heard their prior album on Stateart, this is my first introduction to this experimental duo from Israel.
Without so much as a reference point as to prior output, on this album
- Август 12, 2004: Heathen Harvest, interview with Grundik, 12.08.2004
Contributed by: Malahki Thorn
[Grundik & Slava Interview; Rain Music]
Heathen Harvest: Can you begin by discussing who the members of Grundik & Slava are?
Grundik Kasyansky: Grundik Igor Kasyansky and Slava Smelovsky.
HH: What musical experience did the members of Grundik and Slava have before beginning the band?
GK: A very little experience. Some time before we joined forces
- Июль 29, 2004: Side-Line, for electronics and birds, 29.07.2004
Grundik+Slava are the collaboration between two electronic musicians and sound-artists Grundik Igor Kasyansky and Slava Smelovsky. They got together in 1994 in Tel-Aviv and quickly emerged as the key figures in the Israeli experimental electronic music scene. Their record “Polise” was even voted “best Israeli electronic album of the year” by major Israeli newspapers