Title: Sounds of Taiga
Artist: Darkstroll
Rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Dungeon Synth / Folk Ambient
Year: 2013
Country: Russia
Label: Dungeon Lore Foundation
Anyone who has spent time reading this zine will quickly realize my admiration for Slavic folk music. The folk melodies and spirit of Eastern Europe have always appealed to me, especially for the diverse atmosphere one encounters when listening to a variety of Slavic folk bands. The mood of the music can be extremely dark and also very light, like the land itself. Russia in particular also has a strong history of synthesizer music, and of all the great releases done by the Dungeon Lore Foundation this Darkstroll compilation is by far one of the best albums they have done (and one of the best synthesizer albums I know of). This compilation consists of three Darkstroll releases ranging from 2005 to 2013, which is the complete discography for the project as far as I know.
Darkstroll’s music has an undeniably Russian feeling to it, but Darkstroll stands out for several reasons. While the music itself carries a cold atmosphere, it is fairly fast for music of this style, and even carries an upbeat rhythm. “Happy” would not be the word to describe Darkstroll; my experience while listening to these songs is that it feels like riding on a sled drawn by wolves through the snow-covered mountains of the Russian wilderness. Each song is incredibly well structured, with the rhythm section (usually played on keys) keeping an upbeat tempo which is typical in traditional Slavic folk music. St. Oizin, the sole musician behind the project, also has a genuine talent for writing memorable melodies. Some of the melodies on this compilation remain in my head for days after listening to the album, which always causes me to go back and listen to it again. Another special touch that St. Oizin adds to his melodies is the “trade off” effect of utilizing two instruments to complete the same spherical riff idea. For example, a reed instrument might start a certain melody off, but the last few notes will be played by a flute before the riff begins again. This not only adds a technical touch to Darkstroll’s music but makes the melodies even more memorable.
Track five “At The Silent Halls” is the highlight of the album for me. The song features the typical piano rhythm section, but played at a slower pace compared to most Darkstroll songs. This song features a more melancholic feeling to it but still retains the “warmness” of Darkstroll, like the sun reflecting on a mist in the Siberian tundra. St. Oizin’s talent as a songwriter really shines in this highly atmospheric track.
Darkstroll has not only created a sound that is unique to the Dungeon Synth genre, but Folk music in general. St. Oizin has combined traditional folk music with powerful synthesizers to create a dreamlike soundscape that transports the listener to the wild landscape of Taiga. Of all of the thousands of albums in my personal collection, Sounds of Taiga is the only album of it’s kind.
