SHAMATRONIC: Trip solombre

Orpheus in the Underworld

Trip solombre is a genuinely original album on all aspects. Its greatest asset rests in the impressively powerful, flexible and almost weirdly beautiful voice of the singer, tracing an occult journey on engrossing sonorities accented by dark, ritualistic hymns and incantations.

I will confirm the stylistic and vocal proximity to Virgin Prunes (and especially Gavin Friday) mentioned by another reviewer, and could also add Dead Can Dance as a probable influence (although I believe that in most cases, any perceived musical "kinship" is usually in the ears of the listeners rather than in the music itself, so the points of reference may differ from person to person). In any case, Shamatronic's album does have a very characteristic style, which undeniably sets it apart as a concept as well as its realisation.

We are all, to varying degrees, sensitive and susceptible to "magic" - we are brought up with stories that introduce us to the notion of supernatural intervention and influence since the earliest years of our life. Or perhaps the collective human subconscious still carries atavistic memories of its ancient rituals and responds reflexively to anything that might trigger them. Sometimes the veil separating our everyday routine from what lies outside the edges of our knowledge, is half-lifted and lets us take a furtive peek at the vast, fascinating unknown. Art, and especially music, is tightly linked to these passages towards the worlds beyond; with its own magical capability of (re)creating everything from nothing, it attempts to bring us closer to what our limited sensory perception prevents us from reaching.

As its title indicates, Trip solombre is an invitation to a journey through light and darkness (sol=sun, umbra=shadow) and - I don't know if this is delibrate - also looks like a direct allusion to the painter Jean Solombre, whose ethereal aquatints explore the boundaries of visible and invisible. The music illuminates or deepens the dark at will, blurring the line between dream and nightmare and creating an impression of constantly shifting chiaroscuro. The riveting melodies and electronic accompaniment, with reverse sounds and distortion effects, help build up the imposing mystical ambience appropriate for the lyrics (some of which are sung in Corsican) and set off the power and potential of the voice.

One of the most striking concept albums I had the opportunity (and the chance) to listen to on Jamendo.