KRATONG "The Bees of Psychic Province"
Wrotycz | WRT 001 | CD | 2004

More records like this! Kratong is a side project of Jhonny, the guitarist of neo-classical/dark folk Romowe Rikoito.The story goes that it took him, and his guest collaborators, 6 years to complete 8 tracks and a bonus one of "The Bees...". Whether it's true or not, the pieces show great care for details in arrangement. Unlike the cold and sombre music of Jhonny's mother group, Kratong welcomes a newcomer with warm and charming sounds in the opener. Fine, ephemeral psychedelic electronic background spells remind me of The Legendary Pink Dots, while in the foreground an acoustic guitar, and violin with a companion of female/male singing duo indicate strong inspirations of Current 93, and even Dead Can Dance. The second track continues the formula, but with a bigger lean to some kind of noire rock. Without any collisions Kratong shifts from smooth but melancholic moods to the Middle Ages influenced song sung by a female singer supported mainly by acoustic instruments. From the fourth track onwards, the most enjoyable, for me, part of the record begins. To be honest, I've never heard a group that would correspond so boldly with the recent sound of Coil!!! Pastel, mesmerizing electronic psychedelia, especially when it approaches to calm, dreamy Coil's songs (be it from "Music to Play in the Dark", or "Black Antlers")! They go so fast, it's hard to notice when they pass, and we wake up in the drifting, and droning billows of sound, which, yes, seem to be inspired by Time Machine (although the further parts of this, over 15 minutes, track don't make the things so obvious). It's the proper end of "The Bees of Psychic Province". However, there's one track left - the track listed as a bonus differs from the rest as it's a sort of a dark electronica with rhythmic drive that reminds me of Attrition, and others of that ilk. A good and very listenable record!!!

[krzysztof sadza]