Behind
Galaktlan is Taavi Laatsit, who’s
been active in Estonian electronic scene since 1997 and to date has
released several albums under different names. Being a big movie fan,
he has also written music for quite a few short films. Influenced
by soviet TV series, such as
D’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers
and named after the novel’s chick Constance Bonacieux, this
album contains 10 solid electronic pieces that sound surprisingly
fresh and innovative.
Constance is a combination of modern electronica and melodic
atmospheres from the past, and the use of live instruments adds another
human dimension to this album, with no harm to the digital fields.
The opening
Axister is very soft and inviting, a little hypnotising
as if you are falling a sleep – perhaps it’s a little
door into Taavi’s dream. The following
Kindralmidi
begins with rough guitar and rocky drums, but is soon covered with
howling Moog-like lead building up to the peak point – a total
sound explosion. This album wouldn’t be complete without
Laanetaguse
- the fine collaboration piece with
Pastacas, who adds his
distinctive acoustic guitars and voice processing (for remixes and
a great bonus track check
the single).
The rest of the tracks are not just time fillers, they all make
Constance
so sated and special. The closing and absolutely astonishing track
is based on the theme tune from the Soviet animation
Zolushka,
with the original melodies preserved, but given a new form and costume.
What a tremendous ending! You realize it’s time to wake up,
but you wish this dream would last forever.
It’s really amazing how
Kohvi keep coming up with releases
of such high class; it must be something in the misty Estonian air!
These guys don’t compromise on quality and supply the absolute
best. As with everything released on
Kohvi,
Constance
is highly recommended, and is most likely to stay in your CD player
for quite a while.
