The subliminal appeal not to lose hope may seem somewhat disconcerting these days. But perhaps it is precisely this characteristic of the album by the ex-16 Horsepower mastermind Jean Yves Tola that showcases a spirituality that which subtly sneaks in and disappears. But nothing is brightly lit here.
In particular, Chantal Acda's (The Friends Parade) vocals, recorded with subtle reverb, obscure the spatial similarities: Americana folk with dark beats. Certainly no accidents in times of downtime, blessed are the merciful. However, sometimes this mercy is a bit overused ("Guitar Man"), but then it is directly counteracted with a somewhat playful-looking chanson ("Heaven and Hell"). Every ideology begins with a confusion of languages. Jean Yves Tola celebrates unification. Somewhere between interwoven Afro samples and Madonna (doesn't "Horsewind" sound a little like "Frozen"?). And isn't there also a Nordic element to be heard ("Kevnidenn")? Desirable.
WoNoMagazine: http://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/
"Now, with Alowan, he presents his first solo project and album with ten wonderfully dark folk songs, accompanied by the sensitive voice of Belgian singer/songwriter Chantal Acda".
„The soothing folk sounds between memory and notion form a poetic prelude to a journey into myths."
Alówaŋ – Feathers (Glitterhouse/Indigo)
Related: The Walkabouts, Hugo Race and the True Spirit.
Rating: 8.5/10
Maybe someone else knows the drummer Jean Yves Tola from the band 16 Horsepower, who broke new ground with their charismatic folk rock. With Alówaŋ he is now launching a new project with which he picks up the thread of 16 Horsepower. The debut album "Feathers" has even more in common with Tola's long-term formation Lilium, which is led by 16 Horsepower bassist Pascal Humbert. With various protagonists of the Euro-American folk rock front, especially the Belgian singer Chantal Acda, he creates a world full of myths and mysticism. The expansive songs often come to life with passionate vocal duets and unusual arrangements. Not a single song follows a straight pattern, each one ends at a completely different point than it began and takes a few detours in the meantime. The pieces literally unfold in your ear, giving the impression that you are influencing their respective direction while listening. Classical and chanson influences refine the folk rock pearls. "Feathers" is an extremely successful debut that one wishes for a sequel.
- WK -
Top track: Stand Still