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Album review: Kristen Strezo and the Czech Republic “This Balance.”

By Sarah Malik

Kristen Strezo and The Czech Republic’s new CD “This balance” is an orgiastic fiesta of sounds and colours from an impressively original artist.

The opening song “Death of Goddess” is a sad, melancholy wistful piece on goodbyes with a funky and rollicking tempo that suggest something almost witchy and hypnotic, climaxing at the end with high stretchy hallucinatory sounds.

The second song on the album (by far my favourite), “Paper Walls, Paper floors”, Strezo’s sweet and despairing voice drawls out poetic lyrics- “These walls are paper thin/ And the day the paper lantern burns/ We all will be released/ The day the Chinese lantern burns I will be faraway. I am the one who is leaving.” The song then peters out with feverish jungle and anarchic sounds.

Strezo’s voice combines strength and passion with rhythms of surprising originality and eclectic tempos- including jungle, urban funk and blues mixing seamlessly to provide an earthy and primal mix. The music is a rollercoaster ride and passes all the feminist credentials- there’s angst and existential despair, regret and nostalgia at toxic love affairs combined with idealistic odes to love and freedom.

The fourth piece “A Basin to Catch the Water” literally burst into being. A populist repetitive siren,  “come to me” gives way to an upbeat and joyful ode to love: “I adore you my divine lover/Tell the others that I was here.”

“Of All the days” is more retrospective harking back to memories of past love and filled with yearning, passion and regret: “When I see you now and brief you on the street/ It doesn’t seem the same/ with the secret we would keep/ And all the dreams that we shared /that suddenly died out there...”

In contrast “$27.15” has a funky African beat with restless lyrics that dream of escape and freedom from regimentation- an ode to flight. The first phrases suggest almost unbearable impatience and impotence:  “We arrive/ we wait….We arrive/ we wait.”  You can almost sense the author’s pacing mind and movements: “Any where but here this would be wonderful/ Any where but here this would be grand/ I no longer can stand it here.”

This gives way to a darker, more edgier piece- “Moments that you’re human” has a somewhat somber tone that speaks of deeply felt experience: “Please stop you’re crying. Please Please How could I betray one who gave everything when no-one would?…Please stop you’re crying” 

The theme of darkness continues with “Chilly Bones” a wonderfully gothic and ethereal song threaded with vampirish tones: “A tribute to those who have never gone across the seas with Chilled Bones/ From when the sea air hits the skin weathering from within.” The song is accompanied by sounds of rattles and water pouring which literally chills to the bone with its ghostly magic.

The CD ends on a loud note with “Purple” an eastern inspired jungle mix of clanging symbols, drum beats, fast paced guitar and tambourine climaxing into a head spinning mix.

Kristen Strezo and the Czech Republic’s “This balance”  is one of those rare compilations which show the hallmark of good artistry- combining originality, deep personal expression and genuine experimentation with unique sounds and rhythmic mixes.

Reflective, soothing and beautifully melancholic it is a work to be recommended for any one luxuriating in dramatic post-break up angst. The juxtaposition of the upbeat tempo and African beats with the slower ballads and wistful love songs provides a good mix for both entertainment and reflection. It would fit perfectly right next to your Alanis collection.