Movies and Germans: Iva Nova dance, Helloween go to Japan

Russian avant-folk, German prog-rock and Christmas chants from the masters of guitar psychedelia - there was nothing but new releases in the last month of the year. "Izvestia" - about the most interesting albums of December, which you may have forgotten to listen to.

"Iva Nova"

"MONGONASTUT."

The St. Petersburg girls' quartet (although, perhaps, in the 23rd year of the band's existence it is more appropriate to use a more age-appropriate term, "ladies'" or something) traditionally works long and thoroughly on albums - this one, the sixth, took five years. The members define their style as "alternative female ethno-extreme", which, in general, is true - Iva Nova does not fit into the usual framework of the "format" in any way.

The new work has a little less of the usual Balkan ethno-zador, but more avant-garde noises and trendy dance rhythms (the opening track "Deserter" is almost industrial in its darkness). Separately we can't but mention "Witches of the North" made with ALYONA project, where Slavic melody and folk vocal manner of all vocalists are folded into a marvelous sound canvas, simultaneously archaic and futuristic. In this music one can really find, as the musicians themselves formulated, "an outlet, meaning and hope".

Helloween

Live at Budokan

As some snide music journalist said, concert rock albums are pointless; you either listen to the same thing as in the studio recording, only against the background of some idiots' roar, or suddenly realize that your favorite band can't play at all. However, there are exceptions (especially among "metal" bands) - here is one of them.

Reorganized in 2016 into a septet, the band deservedly bears the title of pioneers and patriarchs of German power metal - to which the recording of the concert at Tokyo's famous Budokan Stadium, the final show of the 2022-2023 tour, is a live, in every sense, confirmation. Three vocalists, three guitarists and a rhythm section with the pressure of a tank division literally tear the band off their feet, and 14,000-plus thousand Japanese fans really roar with enthusiasm - but also sing along to the main hits, and quite coherently. And the hits are presented here almost in a complete set, including a medley of songs from the first album, performed, as it should be, by Kai Hansen, and an epic eight-minute version of I Want Out in the finale with a vocal duel between Michael Kiske and Andi Deris. It's a pity, of course, that there was no place for the Russian favorite ballad "A Tale That Wasn't Right", but there is no perfection in the world.

Al Andaluz Project

The Songs Of Iman Kandoussi

Although the peaceful coexistence of different cultures and religions is beginning to seem like an illusion again, it still happens in music. Al Andaluz Projec, an international project that has been in existence since the turn of the century, is undeniable proof of this. It brings together two independent groups - L'Ham de Foc from Valencia, Spain, dedicated to reviving the musical tradition of Sephardic Jews, which flourished before their expulsion after the Reconquista and the German revivalists Estampie - and the Moroccan singer Iman Kandoussi. The new record is, in its own way, a benefit for her.

Kandoussi grew up on the songs of the legendary Egyptian Umm Kalsoum, considered by many to be the greatest Arab singer of the twentieth century. But the Songs of Iman Kandoussi, which are given the title "Songs of Iman Kandoussi", are not only from her native Arab tradition, but again a very successful attempt to bring together Sephardic, Christian and Islamic music of the Middle Ages. Iman's thick contralto gives unexpected shades to the hymn to the Virgin attributed to King Alfonso X of Castile, "Quen a omagen da Virgen", the Occitan madrigal "Un castel" and the Tunisian "Mina Nawa".

Eloy

Hidden Treasures

Domestic music lovers in the heyday of this German band 40-50 years ago often confused it with English pop "progers" ELO - much better known and popular in our country. Probably, this is the only reason why Frank Bornemann's band didn't gain proper fame in our country - considering the nationwide love for Pink Floyd, whom Eloy didn't directly imitate, but, let's say, creatively developed the ideas of the British quartet, creating somewhat pompous "space" art-rock, with marathon compositions of multi-part structure.

The band is still going strong today (the last - and quite successful - album was released in 2023), and this is, as you can guess from the title, a compilation released obviously for Christmas. The tracks are remixed by Bornemann himself, and it's a pleasure to listen to them on good headphones. However, these rather famous and memorable compositions can hardly be called "hidden treasures". Those who wish to familiarize themselves with "non-canonical" Eloy should, perhaps, turn to the 1991 collection Rarities - however, since then it has managed to turn into a philophonic rarity.

Dean & Britta & Sonic Boom

A Peace Of Us

Another pre-New Year's "seasonal" album - but with new recordings and with an appropriate repertoire. This not too promising creatively, but rather profitable field regularly features musicians of various genres, from elegant and strict "classics" to fierce punks and metallists - all, as a rule, keeping the usual style of songs about Rudolph, red-nosed reindeer, falling snow and green Christmas trees.

Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500), his wife and bandmate Britta Phillips (Luna) and Sonic Boom (Peter Kember) from the legendary and exaggeratedly British Spacemen 3. However, they don't bring familiar standards solely to the dreamy floating sound of reverberated guitars and ethereal vocals. Thus, Willie Nelson's "Paper Trees" becomes in their hands a tender synthpop, one of the best Christmas songs of all times "Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy" seems to be borrowed not from Bing Crosby and David Bowie, but from the unfulfilled duet of Nico with Marlene Dietrich, and the famous melody of Henry VIII "Greensleeves", quite unexpected in the context of both performers and the stated theme, turns into cozy "Silver Snowflakes".