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September 20, 2005
that's not a Volvo.
Hala Strana - Streets of Raised Platforms
Here's why I'm re-running this entry: Steven Smith is releasing a new record on the fantastic Catsup Plate Records, the 40+ minute, single track "Crown of Marches" LP. If I could post an excerpt from that, I would. But for now, you'll have to settle for this goregous song from Hala Strana's s/t debut album on Emperor Jones. This is what I said about it, almost a year ago-
Hala Strana, a band that makes its home within the San Francisco-centric Jewelled Antler Collective, is led by Steven R. Smith and focuses mostly on incorporating Eastern European folk music traditions into more accessible song structures. The Jewelled Antler Collective as an operation is terrifically fascinating, and its constituent bands are almost scarily prolific, so it's tough to keep up with their goings-on, and even harder to find what could be considered an easy starting point in the Collective's wide-ranging discography. However, if I had to recommend anything, Hala Strana and this song in particular would serve as a good place to begin. 'Streets of Raised Platforms' opens with a plaintive, drawn-out violin figure, encased in gossamer metallic guitar work- very much reminiscent of some of Godspeed You! Black Emperor's quieter pre-crescendo moments- and finishes with some dazzling guitar interplay that cuts through the fog of the strings like a beacon, and ends the track on a resigned but hopeful note.
[I was so young, back then. Such a rookie.]
Posted by Kevin at September 20, 2005 03:12 AM