Zavoloka – Plavyna
i have to admit that at first, kateryna zavoloka’s very nice artist-pix caught my attention. i think it’s a cool thing that electronica-people frequently come out of their anonymous laptop-existence, especially if their music is as individual and stunning as zavoloka’s. on her website, you can read about the strong influence of folkmusic on her sound. everytime i play her records, i get the impression of listening to something like cut out of wood, and besides the fact she uses flutes and russian singing, this feeling of being handmade seems to proove her statements. every scattered sound-event bears a tonal weight and is wrapped in analog reverb. zavoloka manages to construct melodies and rhythms out of a storm of single particles: her songs usually start confusing, developing slowly to reach their climax when everything comes together in beauty. i can’t think of a good comparsion, maybe the bizarre plant-music of leafcutter john works out. on a more principial level, zavoloka seems to be the bèla bartòk of contemporary electronica. note: you should order her latest album playna (CD) at the nexsound-shop. it’s even better and beautyfully packed! you can also get an expanded version of the suspenzia-album (CD) if you’re really found of it (nice package, like always).