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Seleya is the second album by Novisad; with Kristian Peters working on the loops that are involved in this quiet music for two years. The 13 track album comes from the Tomlab label, many of the tracks short, mellow constructions. Pflanzenwuche starts the album off with a looping note, bass tinged in a drone fashion. It builds in a rasping manner, a warm feel in the stilted tones. Regan carries on some the vibe, with momentary sustains, a light drizzle in the background of the airy drone and the impression of a stroke across string. Rounded touches offer little smoother notes, almost a purr within the humming whole. Regan transforms into an extended drone, waver against patter.

Oohing tones line up in the gentle wash of Piaa, a deeper bass turn repeating as it comes up from beneath. The two elements working off each other. Wisps of a third tone catch up in the expanding expression. Negligent tones waver, Theatralik peaked by brushes in this lapping wave form. Expanding to offer a lowing melody against the chop of reverberant drones. By this time we are starting to get a feel for the album, and the way tracks are tending to a short mellowness, establishing easy going melodies tinged by a drone potential and working those impressions - as such maintaining a certain simplicity with further complication seemingly redundant.

Shimmering chimes pitter in Schattenmelodie, glimmering a flash of sequence that teases melody. Bass is a wisp within, adding to the fragile with a wistfulness . as Schattenmelodie stepped up the process of evolution Seleya takes this further, melody playing and in slow strings and dull plonks to keep a pace. Waspish chimes set to flutter, rising and faltering by turns. Flittering piano notes play in Zerfall, each cycle topped by the impression of radio filtered chimes. Piano layers, clarifying as the melody develops and unfolds, evoking a pondering from the listener.

From previous suggestions Sehnsucht offers an impression of accordion melody - notes wheezed, wavering vibrantly backed by the taps of finger tips as the sequence repeats. A secondary melody stepping contrast-compliment. Plucking notes from a string melody, Verlauf is casual and a little archaic. The catches of other tones familiar thus far are interwoven by careful degrees. Creeks dip and mix with a pattering through Einsam, all against the strum and stroke of strings. Melody developing and building, smooth tones, contrasted by the more organic and stray contribution.

Slow considerate strings pluck away at the start of Sommersonnenschein, while another melody holds a more constant structure and there is a particulate crackle to go with it all. With each piano strike of Macht, there is an echoing waver, the result a fluctuate strain of melody. Behind that carrying the whole is a subdued drone, gaining a more vibrant role in proceedings as the piece continues. The album finishes with Vorbei, where a sorrowful melody plays in an approximation of a dirge while wavered strokes mark the slide and twang of fingers, against a placatory vibe and turn ensemble.

RVWR: PTR
November 2001

More Information

1: tomlab

label site.