3S

Well some four years after their debut album, the four sisters reconvened for a second opus, but this time, they amplified their ideas and their sound. Indeed, while there are still tons of medieval-sounding progressive folk, the group expanded quite a bit in the Pagan or Wyrd folk direction, as well as giving in an psychedelic/alternative rock slant? So the present album would hover somewhere between Espers or Long Live Death on one side and Radiohead or Decemberists on the other end of the spectrum, with even a shade of U2. Indeed the acoustic side of the debut album is completely erased, and the present soundscapes also feature much more percussion instruments as well. The group delves into electronic wizardry and tape loops and vocal effects, but somehow, this doesn't erase the original personality of the group.

Opening on the plaintive Little Dole, a piece that brings you back to their haunting debut album, the mood goes soon electric while staying extremely intimate, not unlike some of the era's post-rock albums, but without the doom and gloom atmospheres, even if the 3S mood is down. Tracks like Curoon, the slow and intimate Higher Motions or even outstandingly bizarre Trays have a much rockier (and straighter-rhythms) feel ala Yorke or Bono band. Other tracks, like the great Kjilmé or the haunting Sano Mame, the mood is halfway between the rockier pieces and the more ambient stuff (that searing guitar, soaring in the stratosphere), or even slightly ethnic. In some ways, you'll find some typical Belgian chamber-prog ambiances, the one in Sano being slightly reminiscent of Present.

Another peak of the album is the spell-binding No One Amo, whose polyphonic vocals can even enthral the deadest of your grandparents. The obvious highlight (IMHO) is the 17-mins Paving epic, one that does take indeed its sweet time to develop with some repetitive modal-raga moments, with some searing electric guitar solos, sometimes reminiscent of young Gilmour. The closing Levina features some high-energy moments, but slowly bows out to finally fade into oblivion is such a delicate, in an-almost post-rock manner

A fairly different beast than its older sister, 3S shows just how much a group can evolve in their musical endeavour while remaining more or less faithful to their original intent, even if the two oeuvres are fairly different. It's difficult to really describe such an intricately-woven and complex sonic fabric, but believe me, this is one of the 00's best Belgian album. Must be heard to be believed!!

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