Monika Subrtova – Toon (Album – Next Festival Records)
Genre/Influences: Minimal, Electro, Ambient-Electro, Experimental, Cinematic.
Format: Digital, Vinyl.
Background/Info: Monika Subrtova is a Slovakian, female, artist living in London (UK). After a debut EP “Omnia” (2020) she released her debut album “Toon” by the end of last year on Next festival Records. The work is meant to be ‘chilly visions drawing on influences from 90s Electronica, Techno and film composition’.
Content: “Toon” features 6 cuts inviting the listener to discover a Minimal/Experimental Electronic sound universe driven by slow rhythms and Ambient string sections. The work is somewhat linear although featuring overwhelming passages.
+ + + : The opening cut “Lil Hai” is a cool track to discover the sound universe of the project. The instrumental edit of the album reinforces the Cinematic/Ambient vision which on the first track reminds me a bit of an instrumental version of Jonathan Bree. The main strength of the work emerges throughout the dark strings and cold arrangements sometimes creating a hostile sphere. Other recommended cuts are “Oren” and “Ef Hve”.
– – – : The instrumental edit is cool but a few spoken, vocal, lines and/or samplings could add a little bonus.
Conclusion: Pure minimalistic but an interesting discovery which I’m sure has more potential than what was exposed on “Toon”.
Best songs: “Lil Hai”, “Oren”, “Ef Hve”.
Rate: 7.
Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551001614726
Label: www.nextfestival.sk / www.facebook.com/nextfestival
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