Estradasphere — The Silent Elk Of Yesterday

As a taster for the Buck Fever album (scheduled for September 2001), Estradasphere released this 73 minute EP with four songs from the album and a bunch of liverecordings.

The titletrack is an epic black metal song with operatic voice and keys to continue with the Nintendo-tune Crag Lake. The liverecording of the ballad Millennium Child and the multistyled Dapper Bandits make me anxious for the full album.

The somewhat raw liverecordings on the EP give us insight on how a concert of Esphere sounds: from a heavy version of Fanfare Ciocarlia's Ah Ya Bibi to the jazz excursions of The Ventriloquist Choir make me wish for a European tour. Except the excerpt of Hunger Strike and a rendition of The Princes Of Xibalba none of the songs have been previously released, although some will appear on Buck Fever like Burnt Corpse, a 14 second grindcore eruption. My personal highlights are the traditional Greek song Mikapses Yitonisa and the Raymond Scott cover The Penguin. The discoversion of 'Some Turkish Song' is very nice too.

It's amazing how this band can combine all the musical styles in a coherent manner and the virtuosity that everybody displays on their instruments is stunning. This EP is a must-have for every Estradasphere fan and everybody who can enjoy all aforementioned musical styles. Let's pray these guys will make it to Europe someday.

The EP is available through www.estradasphere.com and their label Web Of Mimicry, where you also can order their debut-album and the video (NTSC only!).