Igor Krutogolov — White

Israelian busy bee Igor Krutogolov has yet another project on his hands which is in many respects the opposite of his band Kruzenshtern i Parohod. The artwork of White is very much what the title indicates: white.

Musically, it’s not that sparse, but still the music is quite smallsounding and very atmospheric. The seven untitled movements are always calm and serene, with the sound of rain as a recurring element. The album feels very much like a pleasant dream. A dreamy, swirling organ functions as drone similar to an Indian tambura. That sound will be the flying carpet, so to speak, on which you will be taken on an interesting trip. Some parts, like the third movement, have a playful feel similar to the the ambient excursions of the The Boredoms. This will be augmented by medieval stringwork and harpchords, that have the ancient sense of some of Arvo Pärt’s work to it. Ceremonial bells tingle and flutes chirp like birds while you can imagine yourself in a garden, which is finally getting the rain it had been thirsting for and soon everything will blossom up and fill your nostrils with heavenly scents. Then, in part seven, all sounds slowly disappear until your left with the sound of the rain.

The friendly drone music reminds of (partly) Icelandic projects like Jóhann Jóhannsson, Sigur Rós and Eyvind Kang’s Virginal Co-ordinates, so if you enjoy those I’d recommend this. If you don’t know any of them I’d recommend them all, on top of this one.