If you are one of those people who like to listen to different kinds of music depending on the time of the year, then I’ve got something autumnal for you here. Rïcïnn’s new album Nereïd is just the right mixture of ripeness and melancholia, opulence and decay to accompany you through this varicoloured season.
Rïcïnn is a project of Laure Le Prunenec who contributes as vocalist to well-known French bands Öxxö Xöox and Igorrr. If you know these bands, you know how impressive her vocal abilities are. If you don’t know them, you really should check them out. Nereïd is Rïcïnn’s second album. Their first one, Lïan (2016), which we also reviewed here, was generally received favourably, although it might not have gotten the attention is deserved.
The central element of Nereïd is, of course, Le Pruenec’s voice. Her vocal performance has been compared to that of Chelsea Wolf and Björk, but those were not the singers that came to my mind while I was listening to the album. The often dramatic and opera-like performance is much closer to that of Diamanda Galas or Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance. Especially the latter’s work with the Bulgarian female choir The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices shares many similarities with the music on Nereïd.
Rïcïnn mix classical music, folk, electronica and opera to create their very own sound. Among the more prominent instruments to be heard are a violin and a cello, not uncommon, of course, but here they are combined with synths and computer-generated sounds resulting in a rather unusual soundscape. The atmosphere created is lush, opulent and autumnal, with dark disturbances. You are simultaneously reminded of times gone by and an existence outside of time, in a parallel universe. The other-worldly character of the compositions is enhanced by the fact that the lyrics are most of the time written in a made-up language.
Nereïd is an imaginative and impressive piece of music, a work in which audibly a lot of personality, love and dedication have been invested. It’s rich and dark character will delight every lover of good music and provide enjoyment for many, many hours.
(8.5/10 Slavica)
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