Sun Q is a duo comprising of Ivan Shalimov and Elena Tiron. Myth is their second album on which Ivan and Elena are joined by a host of guest musicians.
The CD arrived via the band and Bad Dog Promotions who do send me interesting stuff to listen to.
Myth is certainly no exception to that. Knowing nothing about Sun Q – so no pre-conceptions – I read the blurb accompanying the CD. That was intriguing prior to giving it a spin.
If I can borrow some words from that blurb:
“Sun Q combines a dirty guitar sound with vivid, mysterious vocals and ornate melodies……imagine garage psychedelic vibes with a touch of stoner magic and a warm vintage sound, Sun Q mix in various styles and added exotic instruments to craft a mesmerising beauty.”
Interesting stuff. More interesting when I read on the band’s web site that some of those exotic instruments include Juno-106 and Soviet synthesizers, a dozen guitars from different eras, the vintage Italian electronic organ Farfisa and even the traditional Swedish instrument nyckelharpa.
After spinning the CD a good few times I can testament that it lives up to those words. It’s a real grower, very varied, never less than enjoyable and does not fit neatly in to one genre or another – which to my ears makes it more rewarding.
It’s sort of heavy, progressive, bluesy, trippy, psychedelic, atmospheric, engaging and hypnotic at different times throughout. The use of those retro-synths and the Farfisa hark back to the prog glory days of the 1970s works excellently to give that twist to the sound.
And Elena Tiron’s vocal delivery is superb. What an expansive voice she has. Powerful yet hauntingly mysterious.
Jane Doe is an attention grabbing opener with the fuzzy guitar and the darkish bluesy edge along with those lush vocals.
Children Singing sort of upbeat with a sweeping symphonic element, punchy and with a catchy melodic hook.
Tree takes us in to trippy psych/stoner territory. As does Animals to a certain extent. Dionysus comes in hot with a monster riff and an equally monster melodic chorus. A short, sharp punch of a song. Have a listen:
I Am The Sun builds nicely with keys and synths then stuff such as Still Searching for the Skulls has a more what could be called traditional prog approach.
Elizabeth Siddal and Crystal Doors have a brooding feel about then and the bonus track of Heaven Before is no back number.
Top marks to Sun Q for releasing Myth. An excellent album of interesting and engaging music flowing effortlessly between multiple genres and enough to satisfy whether you prefer your rock hard or your prog expansive and a bit retro.
Check it out for yourself at Sun Q’s BandCamp page. Multiple formats are there:
https://sunqband.bandcamp.com/album/myth
My thanks to AC at Bad Dog Promotions and the band for sending me another winner.