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Title: Winter Solstice
Artist: Shino
Genre: Acoustic/Gothic
Release Date: 23rd November 2009
Label: afmusic



Album Review

A man and his guitar is a very intimate style of performance. There is nowhere to hide, nobody else to share the pressure, no ways of distracting the audience. This is why men like Leonard Cohen and Johnny Cash could write such dark music. When it was just them, the audience, and the guitar the atmosphere would bristle with the often confessional darkness of the songs. It’s a feeling that Aliaksandr Kavaliou aka SHINO has captured perfectly here. Aliaksandr isn’t a pitch perfect singer, nor is he a remarkable guitarist. But the emotional resonance of his music, the rough baritone of his voice and the intimacy of the recording resurrects the early dreamlike sound of Cohen and the outlaw feel of Cash’s late American recordings.

‘Something Wrong’ evokes Cohen’s ‘Sisters of Mercy’ by way of an acoustic MOONSPELL track which makes for a rather accessible song for those who may not own any 100% acoustic albums. ‘The Universe’ continues its dreamlike storytelling with the poetic lyrics taking centre stage and the guitar providing a mere musical base. ‘The Courage Song’ isn’t a fantastic title, but it is a rather groovy, slow, fireside hymn that overflows with emotion. ‘Ich Weiß Es Nicht’ is the most complete song-like structure inasmuch as it feels like the acoustic reprise of a track by ASP - the native German lyrics also give it a very different feel to the rest of the tracks. ‘Molitwa’ continues the non-English lyrics for a foreboding lamenting piece. ‘Green Mile’ has a more ballad like feel to it without coming off in anyway like a clichéd Rock‘n’Roll unit-shifter, which is refreshing to hear. Whereas the short sharp delivery of the album‘s final track, ‘The One’ is a punkier take on the formula of the previous tracks and makes for a very effective parting shot.

The production on this album isn’t as sharp as it could be and it is purposefully minimalist which may deter some potential listeners who are used to very clean production and multi-layered recordings. But I think those who give it a fair listen will be instantly captured by the dark charm of this new breed of outlaw acoustic poet.


Track-list

01. Something Wrong
02. The Universe
03. The Courage Song
04. Ich Weiß Es Nicht
05. Molitwa
06. Green Mile
07. The One


Line-up

Aliaksandr Kavaliou


Websites

http://www.shino.aliaks.de / www.myspace.com/bloodysalvation


Album Cover




Rating

Music: 8
Sound: 7
Extras: -
Total: 7.5 / 10

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