Russian label Haarbn Production have an interesting and niche roster of releases. Things pop up from them very occasionally and to date they have only 38 albums to their name. What I have noticed is that despite often containing a bedrock of metal, be it black, thrash, death etc they pick artists from all over the world who often have elements of ethnicity to their sound. Examples of this are Sabhankra from Turkey, Sawlegen from Morocco and Narjahanam from Bahrain. The word ‘Oriental’ often accompanies descriptions of the music from their artists and when something arrives, we play with the knowledge that the music will contain some spice and take us off to far off and exotic places. The latest couple to arrive are both from Russian outfits and included Ars Nocturna who another writer will be penning all about and the interestingly entitled WalDStreeT from Feodosia, where they literally hang out on the streets.
This lot call themselves a “street project” and there are pictures of them playing outside rather than in venues and entertaining people going about their daily lives. Not to worry about them frightening old ladies going about their daily shopping as this really is an exception to the rule and not a \\\metal/// album in the slightest. Tracks here, simply entitled Northeast to Northeast V are primarily acoustic and if one wanted to put them in a certain place in their music collection this would definitely be an album to file under World Music.
As the music strums in with beguiling whispers and fragrant vocal chants I am transported instantly but not to Russia but more a Middle Eastern Saharan desert where traditional instruments such as drums and rattles are used to pick up a mysterious beat and enchant the listener like a snake. Vocals are subtle with feminine choral parts twisting around them in the background. A roar may well rear up out of it all and the guitar melody is simple and effective, this is music to stop off on your weary route and listen to, unlocking the magic inside. It also has a very spiritual feel about it. As far as the world we normally dwell in it is fairly well removed but one may find hints of such artists as Orphaned Land and Arkan within it. Oriental, Persian, Israeli? You can take your pick although Russian would definitely not be my first pick as this gently twists like sand blown in a breeze on a balmy desert night. I also like the way that one track finishes here and the next fades in continuing this five-part tale and charming like Scheherazade with the next part of her story. When the male vocalist (I have no name) really forms words his clean and fragrant voice is excellent as are the babbling chants that naturally pattern the music. Is that a sudden near Celtic melody in the third part? Well it is definitely taking me all over the place and for the short 29-minute length going with the flow is a real pleasure. Far gentler and uncluttered than most of the music we write about, the atmosphere that this conveys is a contrast but an utterly delightful one and this album is a real gem picked out from a mound of treasure by one of a cunning group of 40 mysterious thieves. Really though words don’t entirely do it justice and the best way to get a grasp of this is to experience it as pipes twill and the mystic qualities call you to prayer; whatever god it is you may worship.
After the main segment there are a couple of extra tracks ‘Street Fantasy’ and ‘Ritus’ The first of these has some orthodox and more Gregorian style chants within it. Perhaps these Russians could reinvent themselves and call themselves something like Batushka; I’m sure there’s a gap in the market there. Lovely chilled acoustic guitar melody is left to wash over the listener on the last number and give the head a final trip until the music gradually ebbs out leaving you back in the reality of a world whose borders are sadly very much closed at the moment. With music like this though we can but dream of distant places and be taken away from the hurly-burly clamour of a complicated world for a short and sublime time. Listen to it at the Bandcamp link below and venture into far-flung lands.
(7.5/10 Pete Woods)
https://www.facebook.com/waldstreet999
https://waldstreet.bandcamp.com/album/waldstreet-northeast-ep-album
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