Reviews

I did not know what to expect when I clicked on 'listen', but wow was I pleased. As soon as I heard the violins in the first track 'Roselyn', I was instantly hooked. And it wasn't just that one song, the whole album is fantastic. I was genuinely pleased to listen to the whole album. Wonderful!

2009-01-30 Review Time!

[23:59] So, I was cycling new Grace Valhalla's album in my S1 for several weeks now, and I think it is the time to drop a few words about it. First an off-topic remark: there should be functionality to inform You by e-mail about new releases of favourite artists -- I wouldn't miss this very album in 2008 then... But to the review: SummerCamp is so far the best Grace's album of all I've heard. From the first notes it may be noticed, that the sound and techniques have been redesigned from scratch, and probably some new instruments have been employed. Album opens with nice hummable tune entitled Roselyn, build over a guitar riff of four never-dying punk rock chords. It is nice prelude to the next one, All my life, which albeit a bit more aggressive, is still a slowly revolving sound carpet -- and a hidden surprise for sensitive ear: there are some reverse tape effects in the background. All in all, there is much more 'radiophonicness' (or musique concrète, as Francophone say): many found sounds interleaved with vintage synth we find in title tune of the album, and the culmination of sound manipulation is the Voodoo Lounge, a tripnotic mix of bits and scratches of Latin America soundtracks, that makes You feel almost like You sit within a circle of people during some strange ritual. And there come Dream Catchers, which resembles a bit works of Fred Nachbaur, but again with intriguing background noises, which for first I took for sound artifacts left by reverb machine. But they were intended, just like in next tune, Sandy where some digital whistles at the threshold of audacity give this nostalgic feel of Amiga module music and early sampling techniques. In feeling scattered we find somehow more modern arrange and a play with melody line moved to multiple-resonant drone bass sounding like crazy electronic didgeridoo. This tune also, probably because of the guitar and apreggiated ostinato recalls to mind works of Tangerine Dream. Then we are waken from speechless awe by brief visit In the Savage club -- again a slightly detuned camp guitar and insane dance, only to get back to civilisation by sunDogs, which sound more like a trial given to newly bought instrument, but is very enjoyable. We take a little rest in The garden of birds and waters, which slowly reveals its wonders and leads to grand finale, with delicious orchestral feel of space. Any conclusions? This album is much more than just another ambient sound wallpaper. There is much progress in comparison to previous albums, many ideas, many inventions, and almost touchable fun, that the Artist had while recording this music. I have had fun also. Nine stars on my private ranking and coup-de-coeur. Have I not missed it in November, would definitely win 'album of the year 2008' competition

Delightful to listen to and moves you. Great sound.

NICE ALBUM

Experimental and interesting! A lot of potential, but a few 2 many 'tricks n tweaks' 4 my taste - makes me lose the context.