Koan - When The Silence Is Speaking

[Trance2MoveU]

Artist: Koan

Title: When The Silence Is Speaking
Label: Blue Tunes Recordings
Date: November, 2009


1. Back to the silent lagoon (Blue mix)
2. Selena's Song (Blue mix)
3. After the Guiding Venus
4. The Island of Deceased Ships
5. Dance of Nereids
6. Odysseus under the old tree
7. Underwater Moonlight (Blue mix)
8. When the silence is speaking
9. Dolphin and Eos


This had to be one of the most eagerly anticipated releases this year. First off, Blue Tunes Recordings is a label with a prolific output. This German label has over 30 releases since 2006! Koan is a Russian downtempo project (as well as other genres) with several EPs as well as a few full length albums already released. They are known for their multiple layers of downtempo complexity combined with a sinister groove. Starting with the cover, it is very colorful. I don't know exactly what the picture is, but it could be either a flower or smoke. Even the font used for their name evokes a mystic appeal.

The music does not disappoint. Numerous layers coat the brain and hover above nice breakbeats. Acoustic instruments from the east and west mix nicely with atmospheric pads and it is evident that this duo know how to build a track. The music is so emotive that something new is heard on repeated listens. No space is wasted as new sounds trickle in from all sides. This is as rich a downtempo listening experience as I have had recently, and I cannot recommend this highly enough. Every single track is magical far exceeding my expectations with the exception of the final ambient number. That track doesn't seem to fit at all. Nonetheless, this will go down as one of the best of 2009. Well done Koan!


Psyshoppage

Mdk

[PRS]

am hoping for more Koan - Fashionable Mood. I was not really warmed by their asian album. But that track is so great.

[longloststar]

This is highly melodic chillout in the vein of Easily Embarrassed. We find big beats and very prominent melodies, in fact one could argue that there isn't much more to the tracks than these two elements, there's little talk about atmospheres and textures which are so common in low tempo stuff. Not necessarily something bad, it might simply be an (easily) acquired taste, but that might be said of all music, so it's not a very interesting argument. I'll just say that throwing melodies at peoples faces generally is a bad thing and that Koan is excellent when he does not do that so much, such as in #5 Dance of Nereids and in most non-climactic parts of the whole album. As a final judgement I would say; check it out before buying, but be sure to check it out because it might fit your taste just right.

[GreatThinker]

Boring....another album which lacks creativity. Doesn't offer any interesting melodies or new sounds. Just your standard chill album.

[discogsfriend]

This is far above standard chill though I agree it could use more interesting sounds. It's probably in the top 10 chill for 2009.

[voice of all]

[sorry, i have missed this thread and started my own. post here my review and moderators please delete that another one by me]

 

Simultaneously with release of the first track on Dissidents compilation Koan project starts to be shown gradually on open spaces of the Moscow electronic scene. At first rarely getting into the closed clubs and on private parties, musicians quickly pass in the concentrated attack: a series of performances is followed by release of debut album Talking Stones. So the project discography has begun. It was visible not casual coincidence, but accurately planned action, because right from this point Koan releases music regulary and each time with much quality. Koan begun to gather the quantity of releases and level of prestige in the scene. Not a miss had been admitted till four years of persistent work.

 

Judge: practically at once after Talking Stones (2005) at the same label When Invisible Becomes Visible EP (2005) and mix-album Signs (2006) were released. It expands borders of Koan's creativity offering absolutely other sight on ethnic lounge, than we have heard on the first album. In the same 2006 there was the first international-published solo disk Koan under the name Two Moon Butterflies (2006). The release has offered listeners the whole new sound quality level. Some indelible hits made album completely sold in no time by all large Internet psy shops. Many top labels released their tracks that year and Koan guys also spends active summer, participating in the European festivals. In 2007 musicians got a little break, fiercely working over the new style, a new sound and new ideas. The release of 5 tracks Fulfilled Wish EP (2007) at fresh perspective Russian studio became an intermediate result of year. Also released out a project composition at the compilation again. Koan was issued also on Blue Tunes Rec. In 2008 digital 4 tracks release Watermarks Remixes - which includes remix from Behind Blue Eyes.

 

With development quality of a sound of the project's material constantly raises. it is obvious that guys are seriously keen on contemporary sound technics of chill-out ambient and also folk and world motifs - their music is transforming, develops and always full of new ideas and concepts. Today I offer you the review of the new solo disk Koan which has been kindly released by German studio Blue Tunes Rec.

 

Koan - When The Silence Is Speaking

 

1. Back to the silent lagoon (Blue mix)

2. Selena's Song (Blue mix)

3. After the Guiding Venus

4. The Island of Deceased Ships

5. Dance of Nereids

6. Odysseus under the old tree

7. Underwater Moonlight (Blue mix)

8. When the silence is speaking

9. Dolphin and Eos

 

 

Here are brief reviews of some tracks from the album to give you light hints of what you will get from it.

 

1. Back to the silent lagoon (Blue mix)

 

For those who have heard the first album Talking Stones this track will seem not simply familiar - it will necessarily make very strong impression at least be cause of melody and that amazing difference in soundings of original and the sequel. A bomb will blow up in the head of any who remembers that, old album. For those who is not remember I urgently recommend to get and to listen... The track is very good composition with the swinging bit, muster of pipes and a solar evening spirit. Deep tones of wind instruments at background in second half of timing are successfully supplemented by a string melody which develops being strung on itself. Then it suppresses its own environment and sounds solo. The track comes to the end with the same from what began leaving nice impression.

 

5. Dance of Nereids

 

This dance is very strange. It begins from the breakbeat rhytm-cicle and pulsating of solid synth. Then it transforms many times in many different ways. It starts spin faster and then die out again, it consists of one note and then changes to many different sounds. Even beat is not stable - it changes from breaked and hard to the flat and soft. This track is not going to keep it form never - new sounds new moves and new sequences are apper meny times again and again. I cant say that this will be the track that you will like for sure but you realy need to listen to it yourself - it has very interesting structure and original asymmetric taste.

 

7. Underwater Moonlight (Blue mix)

 

It is one more interpretation of an old material. This track also was present on an album of 2005. Actually in the present variant atmosphere became deeper, more hysterical... It is possible to tell more internal. The melody which reveals to the listener in thirds third of composition possesses all advantages inherent to the style of the project. In addition this melody released in the average heights a timbre that gives it additional pluses, doing sounding smoother, dense and viscous.

 

8. When The Silence Is Speaking

 

The starting bit is interesting enough and dynamical, but it leaves on a background already on the second minute when time has come to replace the basic tool. Development occurs slowly towards increase of a timbre of a melody and rhythm section allocation. To the middle of the track the rhythm becomes feeble and abrupt, the melody is replaced with shivering sounds on a background. Then the melody rotates in attempts to begin again. The next variation of a melody is offered here in corporate style Koan - shortly, sonorously, cyclically, is flowed round. It is dancing around soft flat beat. Finally it remains only one with little adds of reflexions and silent noises.

 

Summary. The disk has turned out charming. From the very beginning and to last note it generates, develops and supports integral atmosphere. A little bit is a pity that I prefer little bit more light tones in music, but is assured that many listeners on advantage will estimate this album. The disk accompanies us from a gentle sunset to a quiet early dawn through fascinating, unexpectedly rich impressions of night. Koan have once again put a foot on higher step of that creative ladder. Here there are all components of successful modern musical art - progress of quality of sounding, development of the concept and atmosphere of compositions at the album, presence of original and characteristic features that allows to name this project the significant self-sufficient and integral phenomenon of a modern world chill-out scene.