The music of Kristina Moore as Kolezanka is likely to earn comparisons to that of Broadcast and Stereolab. That makes sense. I think there's more here though, and I'd urge you to take a careful listen to Alone with the Sound the Mind Makes, out now via Bar/None Records.
Opener "Koszmary" hits all the same buttons as those early Broadcast singles did, while "Mania" recalls mid-Nineties Stereolab, and certain solo recordings from Laetitia Sadier. To her credit, Moore expands this stuff in her own unique way, with "Slapstick" adding in a Belew-ish guitar (?) to the mix, and her vocals sounding as natural as can be, even as they are gently swarmed by samples of her own voice massed as a backing choir. It's a precise piece of work, and a real highlight of Alone with the Sound the Mind Makes. Elsewhere, "Cheers!" ditches the stylistic chances and pushes forward in a direct fashion. The strength of Kristina Moore's voice is evident on this one, and it's that combination of her vocals and astute arrangements that make this such a compelling record. In terms of mood, Alone with the Sound the Mind Makes checks all the boxes that someone like me will be drawn to, but it takes chances as a release in spots, and pushes against expectations in many others. Highly recommended.
Alone with the Sound the Mind Makes by Kolezanka is out now via Bar/None Records
[Photo: Jake Kile]