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AGNIVOLOK: Sculptor Released by: 2002 Format: LP Tracklist: 1: Heart of Stone 02:47 Total Length: 45:34 min General Facts: This Israeli act consists of Vera Agnivolok, Igor Krutogolov and Vadim Gusis. It was started around 1998-1999 by Vadim and Vera later joined by Igor in the end of the year 2000. Other than the three of them, the project is sometimes joined by Shurik Waits on flutes, recorders and other wind instruments. Agnivolok was supposed to release a CD named Cherries for the Golden Skull on Crowd Control Activities but since this label currently seems to have taken a dormant state, the task has fallen upon Stateart. Agnivolok did however participate on Crowd Control Activities Funeral Songs compilation with a track named Pannoczka. Review: The Agnivolok ensemble consists of acoustic guitars, string instruments and female vocals. The music is completely acoustic and fairly relaxed, sometimes centred around vocals but for the most instrumental. Agnivolok has also used some samples in their music. In the track Sculptor for example, the sound speaks for either small shards of rock hitting the ground or perhaps dices being cast. Hard to determine, yet the first interpratation may be more likely considering the title of the track. The album starts with a solemn piano-intro played over the crackling of an old vinyl, suitably named Heart of Stone. Also this track has a thematic use of samples which is further described by Vadim in the question below. Close features Vera's voice and a nice flute part that generate a certain medieval atmosphere, further magnified by the sonorous bell-clangs and Vera's very natural voice. The track soon develops a strange rhythm generated by an awkward bass guitar loop and some modest percussion instruments. For the most of the time, the music presented here is melancholic centred around the dark string arrangements and occasional vocals. Sorting this into a folder can be a bit complicated. Most of the stuff on this CD is related to the Neo-classical or Neo-Folk genres. The track Penance however is more or less an ultra-long Noise/Ambient track centred around a turmoil of sounds and drones, generated by various acoustic instruments. Some tracks - for example Far Away - are reminiscent of the calmer tracks with female vocals from Der Blutharsh' When all else fails, yet other than that, there's not really any bigger similarities between these two projects. Another project which sometimes comes to mind while listening to Sculptor is Amber Asylum, yet Agnivolok's music is more unpolished than that of Amber Asylum and it also seems like Agnivolok has a more experimental approach. Still they both seem to be fond of experimenting with acoustic noise from cellos and guitars more than in just an ethereal sense. I completely agree with Vera, Igor and Vadim when they say that their sound is unique. Agnivolok is definitely a one-of-a-kind experience that is hard to categorise. If you are looking for something with crystal clear production and a perfectionist studio sound, then this will probably not appeal to you. It is quite unconventional and may demand some listens. I enjoyed it however. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Five questions to Agnivolok ECTONAUT: Please introduce your project to the Ortus Obscurum readers. For how long have you been doing this and for what reason? VERA AGNIVOLOK: When I was twenty, I fell in love, and that pushed me to writing songs. After we met with Vadim in 1998, we decided to start a project together. It was the birth of Agnivolok. IGOR KRUTOGOLOV: I joined Agnivolok at the end of 2000. The reason why I joined Vera and Vadim... well, I would say - because I love music... I live for music... and Agnivolok is music. VADIM GUSIS: We started Agnivolok together with Vera in 1999. The reason was to express our spiritual feelings in music. I was very impressed by Vera's lyrics, voice, and melodies, so I suggested to her to combine it with my own approach to sound and composition. Later, we met with Igor Krutogolov (Igor18), who currently plays bass guitar in Agnivolok, and Shurik Waits who occasionally plays flutes, recorders and other wind instruments. ECTONAUT: Tell us something about the tracks on the reviewed release. Did you work with specific methods when you composed them? Is there a concept behind this release or anything else interesting that you think we should know about this release? VERA: The songs - Close, Sculptor, and Far away, - are following my dreams. These songs belong to the certain period of my life, they are dedicated to someone... I cannot go into more details. I can only say, that I was writing and composing these songs while having a very "stressful" state of my mind and soul. There are three basic motivations standing behind these songs: intuition, premonition, and stress. IGOR: I would say nothing by words. Music will speak. I hate talking about conceptions. We have managed to create an interesting sound, I have nothing more to add. VADIM: I can tell you about the very first track - Heart of stone. It is an intro track, and I started it with sound of old dusty vinyl... it is intentional, though I suppose some listeners may decide that the LP itself is somehow damaged; the "dusty" sound slowly disappears giving space for grand piano... like "something is rising from the dust". ECTONAUT: How would you describe your music to completely new listeners? Do you feel that your project belongs to a certain genre? Are there any bands that you think you can relate to soundwise and conceptwise? VERA: Agnivolok is the music which is sounding (I can even say, trembling) in my dreams. I cannot say whether Agnivolok belongs to a certain genre or not. I am not very familiar with styles. Nothing related comes to my mind... neither styles, nor bands. IGOR: No. I wouldn't describe the music... I think that's impossible. Even if this would be possible, I won't do that. Styles? No. I do not know what is "styles". Again, listeners will decide whether it is soundwise - related to another band. There are no similarities in music. VADIM: "Agni" means "fire"; "volok" means "wolf" and "portage". Agnivolok means both "fire-wolf" and "fire portage"; wolf will carry you into our world, finding a way between flames, dragging you through the passage in your soul. AGNIVOLOK reflects our way of living; we live in a mystical world. AGNIVOLOK is traditional music of spiritual travellers. AGNIVOLOK is near life experience. The music of Agnivolok does not belong to a certain genre; however, for my opinion, it includes elements of so-called "neofolk" and "dark ambient" genres. Sound-wise... well, at least for myself, it does not sound similar to anything. There are maybe some similarities between voice of Vera and voice of Tony Wakeford... both voices are very emotional and... well, both voices are far from being perfect. The general concept might be quite similar to the concept of Darkwood... I hate talking about similarities. Every band creates it's own musical world; otherwise it is a "cover band". ECTONAUT: What is most important in music according to you? How do you define quality music and what are your musical influences? VERA: The most important thing in music is the presence of soul in it; it is also to give the listener the possibility to find the most thin "thread" which runs through the song; so the listener will keep this thread and follow it, while being spiritually united with musicians. Important too, is the ability of music to be understandable without explanations by words. Quality music answers my questions. I was influenced by many bands. To mention a few: Auktsyon, Yanka Diageleva, Dead Can Dance, Ataraxia, Scherbakov, Goran Bregovic, Led Zeppelin, Doors. IGOR: Human being is like a vessel, and when some music fills this vessel, when some music stays long in this vessel - this music is honest... this music is important to me. Anyway, you can place "quality sign" only to something which you can touch, eat, wear, etc... Music is a kind of more complex matter, and I can judge only for myself. Musical influences? Shostakovich... and others. VADIM: The most important are two things. First is honesty in music; and second is the ability of music to touch the hearts of listeners. These two aspects are definitely connected one to another; and when both of them are present, it is music; when they are absent, it is waste of time. My musical influences range from traditional music to extreme noise; I have favorite projects / bands / composers in each musical genre...too many to mention all of them. I would say - Swans, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Gubaidullina, Skyclad, Egor Letov, Legendary Pink Dots, Sol Invictus, Crass, Stockhausen, Coil, God, Tom Waits, SPK, Dead Kennedeys, Schnitke, traditional music from Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Tibet, Tuva throat singing... and many more. ECTONAUT: What plans do you have for the future? Are there any new releases planned? Anything else you would like to add? VERA: I am planning an album which will be called Beast. Yet, not all the songs are composed... but I think, lyrics of each song of the album will contain the word "beast". Thank you for your interest! IGOR: I have many plans... I hope I will be able to realise them. Well, I have something to add. My dear friends! Stop reading reviews and all that written shit... words are nothing. Listen to the music itself. VADIM: Upcoming is the CD release by Agnivolok, called Cherries for Golden Skull. It will be released by Stateart in the near future. We are currently planning a collaborative release with Darkwood, and working on some compilation tracks... Hmmm... I do not completely agree with Igor... do what you want, read what you want, but please do not forget about the music. Reviews can give you some hints, but music will always transcend any words. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Click here to enter Vadim's website - Click here to contact Vadim |
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