LAST DAY OF SUN

I reviewed the debut by this Russian band which was released the year before in 2007 but recorded in 1992/93 as a trio. Here they are a four piece and they've taken this freight train down the Avant highway making this a difficult and powerful listen. Sure you can tell it's the same band but this is much longer at 78 minutes and much more challenging. I like how the guy from the R.A.I.G. label describes this as being Igor Stravinsky but in the rock format or SHUB NIGGURATH meets the ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE. Agree with it sounding somewhat like that amazing french band.

Darkness pervades the album not so surprisingly given the title which at first made me think it was an apocalyptic title but then doing some research realized it's an actual event every year in the far northern reaches of Russia and other countries around the Arctic Circle who experience a couple of months of no sun. I'm sure the last day of the sun is circled on the calendar along with the day it returns along with perhaps some sort of celebration or ceremony.

The core of the album is the five part "Sun Phases" at around 50 minutes as one piece blends into the next and it's sub-titled "Sailing Into The Sunset To A New Night". Headphone music all the way. It's kind of funny how we get some light and bouncy music to open and close such a serious sounding record but I know these guys have a sense of humour from their debut. It's powerful and avant after 2 minutes and the trip has started. Angular guitar and some spoken words throughout this recording often sounding like an old shaman or something that they are into. Atmosphere is all over this album in spades and like the BREGENT-DIONNE debut I just reviewed I'm simply blown away with the ideas and compositions. This is all over my head to say the least, I just sit back in wonder with both of these recordings. Clavinet on that final section along with an urgent rhythm section angular guitar and as usual lots of powerful sounds.

After the suite we still get three tracks worth just under half an hour of the same style of music, nothing changes just the titles of the songs. Man that bass can be ground shaking at times, I'm just so drawn to this music even if the actual enjoyment level is a little in the wanting department, I don't know how you can't be blown away by this record. I prefer the debut having said all this and I will put this cd in my Avant section where it belongs.