LP Review: Слово Мира - Слово Мира (2017)

Слово Мира, or Slovo Mira in Latin letters, is Russian for "Word of Peace". Слово Мира are on a humanistic mission. I am very glad that the St. Petersburg-based five-piece band's first record has just been re-released on the German label Tonzonen records since otherwise I might have never heard of this extravagant piece of art. One hour of eccentric, experimental, predominantly instrumental music is presented on three tracks here.

The number of instruments Слово Мира use is sheerly impressive. Even though the band has only five members they implemented drums, percussions, oxoma synths, a balalaika, glockenspiel, electronics, guitars, an electric double bass, keyboards, a fretless bass, and even a theremin to their recordings. You might assume that the output is thus extremely rich in variation, and you are absolutely right in doing so.

The band creates complex ambient sounds which build up between electronic ambient, infatuating Slavic Folk melodies, experimental rhythms, glitch noises, a bit of freaky Jazz, and the Art-Rock/Noise as known by Einstürzende Neubauten or similar artists. Despite the complexity combined with the rich variety Слово Мира have yet produced a record which is pretty easy to digest.

The latter actually is what makes this output so amazing. Packaging such sophisticated soundspheres in a way they directly address the audience without confusing them is what makes "Слово Мира" become a real piece of art. While listening to the music there are so many little beautiful patterns catching your attention, but yet the main focus is always led towards the holistic soundscape Слово Мира create without confusing their audience by an overload of experimental input.

Слово Мира describe themselves as a jamming band, and I can clearly imagine how the five musicians are standing in a stage between a full load of different instruments and various objects, creating beguilling experiences of sound, noise, and art. You might consider it as a cacaphony on first sight, but then quickly get the bigger picture Слово Мира are drawing.

Sophisticated and complex music presented in such an infectious and thrilling way is a phenomenon I have not experienced before. Therefore I have to say Спасибо!, and hope to hear much more from Слово Мира in the future.