Mirna Ray (UK) for Krautrock
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Suggest New Bands and Artists
Forum Description: Suggest, create polls, and classify new bands you would like included on Prog Archives
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=134949
Printed Date: May 17 2025 at 17:29
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Mirna Ray (UK) for Krautrock
Posted By: Mirna Ray
Subject: Mirna Ray (UK) for Krautrock
Date Posted: May 17 2025 at 07:51
 https://mirnaray.bandcamp.com/album/th" rel="nofollow - Official page/full-album streaming Mirna Ray is a band based in London, England, that offers an original mix of krautrock with elements of psych-folk and avant-rock. Mirna Ray was formed in 2017. The ensemble consists of Maria Mercedes Maresca on flute, vocals, keys, and percussion; Bartłomiej Dzierbuń on guitar and vocals; Marcin Dzierbuń on drums, mellotron, and percussion; and Marcin Unold on percussion. Their first LP, titled THô, released in April 2025, follows the release of two EPs in 2018 and 2019. Beautifully recorded and with splendid artwork/cover, THô LP stands as an impressive accomplishment within the present day's krautrock scene. THô features ethereal flute melodies melded with wild, krauty guitar patterns, ritualistic chants, and grand sounds of mellotron—altogether, it's a cracker that's sure to captivate those who have a penchant for trippy avant-garde. |
Replies:
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: May 17 2025 at 12:36
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Hi, Please do not take my comments on this as indifferent or otherwise. I'm not a part of the selection of anything committee here on PA (and don't really want to be I don't think!!!) and my words have so much weight as pounds and pounds of cotton or air.  I like this, and it reminds me, at times of Can in the early days, and sometimes Neu as well, but a bit different. Both of them were NOT riff driven, and were (probably) more wide open in their early improvisations, whereas I found that what you did in this album was nice, and very interesting, I had the feeling that it lacked the letting go free form side of it, which was one of the most important parts of the foundation of what "krautrock" was, but has not become in these later years. However, that's not suggesting that everything has to be in the same vein, and you can see a great example with Damo in the Jaki Liebezeit tribute special. It's not about a riff or a sound, it's about just moving ... expressing ... and something to hold on to (like a drum beat or a riff) tends to hold it all down, and take away, what I would consider the freedom for the music. Let's say that the rhyme and the meters don't matter, so to speak, and you just flow with the moment. In theater terms, I think what you have in this album is a "guided improvisation", which I suppose fits what is here described on PA as "krautrock", though having experienced improvisation during my theater days, I can tell you the difference between a complete free form (as in early krautrock) or a guided improvisation, which has its roots in something that is continuing, and becomes, it seems, the "source" of the piece, or the one thing that folks attach themselves to. I heard the whole thing, and appreciated it a lot. It's been a long time that something that was VERY CLOSE to what "krautrock" was in the early days, and it kept my attention, though as I suggested earlier, it would be more interesting if it DID NOT have a point of reference for all the players, and just let go. However, I would state here that is MY OPINION, and one that enjoys and appreciates the freedoms and explorations into nowhere lands of music, and any art form out there. There aren't many folks that courageous as far as I can tell, or have heard. It is a very nice album, and I enjoyed it a lot, and having words to say something about it, is neat for me, though how I feel about it, might intimidate a groups of folks into thinking that I am imagining a definition for "krautrock" that is impossible to find these days, because of all the commercialism surrounding music and the constant limitations to the size of the works ... thus a strong improvisation would not exactly be limited to 5 minutes (so to speak) and would fly further on, not knowing where it is going to go, which is the better part of all true improvisations. A riff, or a constant "control" (as the case in the drums) tends to limit the freedom of it all, which the drummer could/would add touches and feels, instead of beats. Nice album. I heard it a few times, and it brought back some nice memories ... which is something that made it different from a lot of the other "krautrock" additions here, for me ... but this would be a really nice one, and perhaps we will hear much more in the future ... ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |