Tuesday, 30 June 2020

The Russian Linesman 'Monomyth IV - Apotheosis' Review






Artist: The Russian-Linesman



Title: Monomyth IV – Apotheosis



Label: Loki-Recordings



Released: 10th July










The fourth instalment in the monomyth series where most often anonymous storytellers are merged into a musical collage of field recordings and electronic soundscapes. The concept of the monomyth or heroes journey is where the central character goes on a journey and against adversity, wins a victory and returns home a changed person.


This EP starts with the darkest point of our adventure, the ordeal and the inevitable descent into the abyss. The only way now is upward. The rebirth of our heroes leads to their apotheosis, as they seize the sword and begin to enter the divine realm... from a certain point of view." – Russian Linesman


The adventure gets underway with ‘Ordeal’ the longest track of the E.P. at just over nine minutes long. The slow plodding beat and echoes of the narrative lead to passages of choral voices that provide a Gregorian chant feel to the piece. Whilst the tale is of being helped by those who have the least to offer whilst cold and disorientated.


The next track ‘Descent’ begins with a foreboding dark intro that soon unfurls into a light and melodic piece. The emphasis of the tale here is of comfort after sorrow and loss. This is followed by ‘Re-Birth’ which is a more gritty number with dark loops and piano stabs that bounce of the slow-house beat. Whilst the subject matter here placing the focus on coming out of a trauma re-born and re-juvenated.


The final piece of the jigsaw of this instalment is ‘Seizing the Sword’. Where indistinct background chatter and melodic electronica, provide the background for this tale of avoiding the publicity and admiration that comes with being a hero.


Reviewed by Woodzee


links




Video from the re-mixes of the last instalment ‘Entering the Belly of the Whale’
Remix by Nick Warren & Nicolas Rada


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