Staraya Derevnya - Garden Window Escape

Garden Window Escape isn't my first rodeo with Israel/UK collective Staraya Derevnya, having previously covered 2022's Boulder Blues and 2020's Inwards Opened the Floor for The Sleeping Shaman. When band member and friend Gosha Hniu gave me the heads up regarding this, the group's latest release, it was a no brainer that I'd be covering it. The difference being that this time its for my own site Clean Sheets.

Staraya Derevnya are comprised of founding member and effective leader the aforementioned Gosha Hniu who provides Cries, Whispers, Wheel Lyre, Marching Band Kazoo, Percussion/Objects, Maya Pik - Synthesizer, Flute, Drum Machine, Ran Nahmias - Silent Cello, Santur, Oud, Voice, Grundik Kasyansky - Feedback Synthesizer, Miguel Pérez – Guitar, Yoni Silver - Bass Clarinet and Andrea Serafino on Drums. Artwork comes once more courtesy of frequent collaborator Danil Gertman while the lyrics are based on the poems of Arthur Molevwho has previously been a source of inspiration for the band.

''Tight-lipped thief'' features Ornette Coleman Free Jazz blasts, Keith Levene Post-Punk style Guitars and discordant Funk ala James Chance and the Contortions. Underlaying all this is an omnipresent Industrial hum, like a maturer latter day Nine Inch Nails. Its amazing how despite all these disparate influences the music still manage to sound cohesive, a wonderful opener. '”What I keep in my closet'” by comparison is closer to a devotional piece and infinitely less chaotic than its predecessor. The bizarre Vocal effects aren't totally dissimilar to those found in Eyes Wide Shut especially the masked ball scenes, which helps make the whole affair seem sinister and otherworldly simultaneously. Never has disturbing sounded this good. ''Half-deceased uncle'' can be described as epic, particularly as it surpasses the twelve minute mark, making it the longest track on the album by quite some distance. Musically its somewhat reminiscent of Can, one can place it alongside tracks as 'Yoo Do Right' for instance. The pounding tribal drums and Malcolm Mooney style Vocal chanting all present a brilliantly hypnotic effect.

''Cork flight operation'' is beautiful, with some gorgeous Synth work evident and SprechgesangVocals that give one the impression you are listening to Suicide at their peak. That band certainly were capable of producing more delicate pieces and subsequently so are Staraya Derevnya, as witnessed here. As a fan of that band and accompanying style its definitely a musical highlight on the record. Remember Pearl Jam's 'Bugs' from the overlooked Vitalogyrecord? Well ''Virtue of standing still'' the album's shortest track recalls the number's eccentricity and possibly anything Yoko Ono/John Lennon composed. In other words its avant-garde and won't appeal to everyone, but as someone who listens to Troutmask Replica for fun (albeit in small doses), I can certainly appreciate what the band are going for here. ''Onwards, through the garden window'' is intentionally creepy and minimalist sounding with some nods to Mr Bungle'smore challenging work, see Disco Volante for instance as a reference point and finally 'Myshhh'is an ambient gem along the lines of Brian Eno as well as Slowdive when the latter start to tap into the more, dreamy ethereal side of their oeuvre. The track never deviates in tempo and as such you may need to increase the volume so as to pick up on the finer nuances that are present, making for a blissful and relaxing conclusion to the album.

Garden Window Escape is undoubtedly Staraya Derevnya's most realised work to date. Retaining their improvisational spirit, the record feels far more approachable and hence a great entry point for those new to the band's work.