Album Review: smallman - Envision

I hope with this review to not only introduce you to a very fascinating mix of genres, but also reveal bits of the musical heritage of my motherland. Hailing from a place not that far from my hometown, smallman are not your typical *insert genre* band. Drawing inspirations from the Bulgarian folklore, the four-piece's sound is a fusion of anything from ambient and post-rock music to sludge/progressive rock. All that, with a scent of the uniqueness of the sounds of the Balkan region.

Being a fan since the release of their self-titled album in 2006, to say I was excited to be able to feature their new album Envision would be an understatement. The 7 tracks of the record feel like a winter journey through the high mountains of Bulgaria - rough and beautifully epic.

 

One cannot talk about a smallman album without mentioning the artwork done by Tsvetan Hadzhiyski (vocals). Envision is by far the most minimalistic and well-executed conceptual art released by the band. The print is amazing, you can literally feel the music's dynamic curves in your hands. By using only Black & Blue the symbolic images look as if they have come to us from the dream world. This is the first time I see a band reach out to their fanbase by giving them a place to interpret the feelings the music evokes in them... in the artwork itself.

I rarely dig into track by track reviews and this post won't be an exception. I would like to believe that the majority of artists put a lot of logic and feeling into the arrangement of the songs and my personal advice is to just completely dive into the ambiance of Envision and forget about the existence of the "NEXT" button.

If I have to highlight a track off the record, however, that would be "New Day". The brilliant progression aside, when the song reaches its subliminal moment, the rush of emotions which pass through my body is indescribable. The guitar, bass and drums combination is empowering. You know that feeling when you firmly believe you can do anything you want...? And then the gaidas (our equivalent of bagpipies) kick in... things completely go out of control! This makes me so proud, but it also feels like a punch of nostalgia straight to my face. This song brought tears to my eyes for so many reasons and if that's not an indication that these guys are doing things right, I don't know what else could be.

To Tsvetan (vocals, bagpipes), Stefan (bass), Ivan (guitar) & Andon (drums) I could only say - you guys have outdone yourself!

Along with the CD to listen to, the guys were kind enough to give Stereofox 4 free albums to give away for free. How to win? Send us an email to [email protected] with your favourite track off the record!

You can stream or purchase the album from smallman's bandcamp