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FLËUR - Magic |
Just saying that this band's protege is french label Prikosnovenie indicates it's musical profile. (A bit pretentious) Comparison to Bel Canto and 4AD family might describe the sound. The fact that Fleur is from Ukraine gives you a picture of their sensibility. For us in the West, this surely spells exotic. And indeed it is.
The magic of Russian language is in all it's warmth presented on this album and intensified by soft voices of Olga Pulatova and Elena Voynarovskaya. Expressing rainbow of feelings from soft melancholy to painful despair, this counterbalance is truly magnificent signature of Fleur. On several occasions I was shaken by picturesque analogies ('Russian roulette', 'The string') that are out of tune with standard pop melodies they're immersed in. Somehow, this deliberate use of standard/acoustic instruments intensifies the feeling presented by descriptive lyrics. Think Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses style but less deranged and more introvert. Russian version, of course.
Well, considering the fact that not many westerners understand that language, let's talk about music. This is a category where "Magic" fails to impress: it is too conservative, too standard in design and with construction far from innovative. Another contrast: while melodies are in place and strikingly in match with lyrics, their development goes too far into mainstream territory. Keeping it minimal, like in 'Almost real' where guitar meets flute and background strings covered by Elena's fantastic vocals is sound where Fleur should go. Then, all those bands named as their influences, bands of reputation, would be within reach and parred. Melodies are there, vocals and lyrics - of course, but direction is far, very far from lifting this band to a level of artistic excellence where it could be. Songs like dark but effective 'Formalin', then 'Repair', 'Medallion' and other, they all illustrate the same unperfected style. Could be that level of Russia-influenced scene has not developed much since Communist era and fails to meet standards of contemporary popular music, but Fleur should rise above that. Whether their next album will sound more like absolutely amazing 'The ballad of white wings and scarlet petals' shall be seen. Look into their music, even without understanding the lyrics you will feel the warmth of sounds, cold pictures and soft melancholy of Fleur. Speaking Russian is a plus, huge plus.