XIU

Luck favored XIU, allowing this album to infiltrate through the borderlines of PA. Oksana Rodionova's a.k.a. Xiu, 2012, self named project is closer to the realms of the so called "Synth-Pop", which although neglected in this Prog world, offered in its best period many "gems", maybe obscure for those who only listen to prog by rule.

Yes! Luck favored this very good "dreamy synth/pop" record into this PA page. XIU, if allowed to compare, will be that missing link between the very simple rules of intelligent synth-pop and the ethereal "progressive" atmospheres of Dead Can Dance (mainly Lisa Gerrard's voice passages).

The rating is easy, if you quiet know, what happened in those years, where the synths were used to create long, dreamy, attractive melodic lines, with sometimes nightmarish intentions, and with quiet intoxicating, but basic dance (yes, DANCE!) rhythms, focusing more on the whole environment of the song, with the occasional low-keyed "fireworks" or "hooks" (Ultravox's "Vienna" album, as an example, comes to my mind).

So, this project is basically Oksana Rodionova's subtle, almost invisible voice/chorus, travelling through the synths and beats, to carry on with this whole, slow-paced and somehow short timed effort, which adds up for a sensation of wanting more (the way women usually do).

And everything falls in place and works wonders, due to its very inspired and focused song writing.

****4 PA stars for those mentioned above, and "essential", as such, if you missed the whole party.