Frivolitats magnífiques

Miquel Pons was born in Menorca, a little spanish island in the Mediterranean and makes music under the name Voïvode de la Transylvanie. He uses a mixture of modified and home made instruments, VST plugins, feild recordings, as well as live instruments to create some truly special sounding music. I've never been to Menorca, but since Miquel told me that the place had a large influence on the sound of "frivolitats magnífiques", I can only imagine it must be a very special little island.

We start off with the sound of chimes being gently blown with a serenading flute to sweep in a slow and steady picking guitar that holds down the melody of "Marxa nupcial pel Rei de Tropolàndia" There is a very youthful and nostalgic feeling to this track, and it sets a fitting vibe for the rest of the album.

We are next taken to world of "Només vull ser superficial" which is a composition composed of very pure sounding tones and strings which sustain to the backdrop of watery droplets and slowly sweeping filters which produce a floating sensation to the listener.

In "Ablucions de sa Bassa de Sant Pere" we start to hear more digital sounding blips and beeps that lead you into the stunningly beautiful "Américo" that is composed of thick and melodic ambiance with a myriad of French horns and brass sounds taking the lead melody which give it a regal feel.

This leads the way for my favorite track on the album, "Era un fosquet estocàstic, estimada comtessa" that is like a Hawaiian dream-scape of xylophones, hazy static vocals and a lonely steel guitar that feels like a warm breeze in a strange alternate-reality exotic and beautiful island. Maybe this is the sounds of Menorca rather than Hawaii. Either way, what is produced is one highly interesting piece of music that just makes you feel great to listen to.

Further along in "Nadales de sa Princesa de la Cucanya" a cute little Casio Tone carries a choir to the sound of church bells and basses. There is again a sense of royalty to the sound, a majestic feeling is conveyed.

Later in "Renouetes" you almost feel loved by the sounds, they are so absolutely friendly and good sounding, almost comforting, like everything is going to be okay, in fact they're going to be better than okay! There is a very rare purity to this album.

More songs continue you on your journey though the fantasy kingdom of Voïvode de la Transylvanie where you encounter strange but harmless lifeforms who come baring gifts of sonic complexities. You see lands never quite seen before, yet you feel right at home and welcome there. Once you enter this land, you will not want to leave.

Finally with the album's closer "Torre de Hölderlin" we hear a more buzzy electronic drones with melodic fluctuations that carry the melody. This song almost leaves you feeling the album is an unfinished story, like there is more to come in the future similar to when a movie sets up a sequel at the end. This is not saying that the recording doesn't complete itself, but rather ends on a question mark rather than a period. You are sent back home after your strange journey wondering when you can return.

Over all Voïvode de la Transylvanie delivers one incredibly great album with "frivolitats magnífiques" that virtually puts you inside of a CS lewis novel. It is uplifting, unique, melodic, inspiring, imaginative, and still quirky and a bit odd.