'Balm' is an album by Greek/ UK based artist Viki Steiri, a powerful debut, anchored by ritualistic, monolithic cello layers. Steiri combines Badalamentian soundscapes with electronic dance rhythms, synth-tinged folk songs from Istanbul, alongside reworked cello and santur improvisations.
Written and recorded between Athens and London between 2017- 2023, 'Balm' is a distinctly personal documentation. Moving from the suffering caused by rootlessness, loss and changes of identity to immersion in imagination and a search for beauty and intensity, as ‘balm to the soul.’
From the outset, 'Balm' makes a commanding and powerful presence, with thunderous cello seamlessly melting into more gentle, serene soundscapes. Eerily delicate and patient, Steiri maneuvers through tranquil and slightly unhinged juxtapositions, reaching a pinnacle in the captivating and otherworldly triptych that closes the album's first half. Lucid cello and synth are meticulously woven, often with a feeling of effortlessness. Balm soon picks up a throbbing and propulsive pace, all the while holding onto a sense of looseness and experimentation. The album culminates in a mesmerizing union of cello and santur, a compelling last trip into the unknown, before dissipating into the ether.
credits
released March 15, 2024
Written, recorded and performed by Viki Steiri in Athens and London, 2020-2023 (cello, synths, electronics), except for axRI (‘Aksaray’dan geçer iken’, traditional), performed and recorded by Viki Steiri, and Balm, santur and cello improvisation (santur: Dario Papavassiliou, cello: Viki Steiri), recorded in London, 2017, with further processing by Viki Steiri in 2022.
Artwork by Thalia Raftopoulou
Mastering by James Plotkin
“Do you still dream in water?” she asks.
He nods—“only when it rains inside.”
Their words drift, slow like signal loss,, soft clicks between heartbeats.
A drone hums overhead,
its shadow stroking their faces.
“Are we free now?” she whispers.
He laughs, small, broken. “We’re just less afraid.”
They share one headphone,
listening to the city’s pulse—
loops of breath,
echoes of what could’ve been
“Hold me,” she says.
“I am,” he answers,
“in the static.” magoski
Nothing feels hidden in Kohl's music. Sounds may combine, but their individuality remains, along with their strong sense of purpose. Everything feels as if it was meant to exist together, without the need for cheats. Some of it has an explanation, like the audio-to-midi mixtures on 'Join Me, Everybody'. But some of the ways that this music functions goes beyond any attribution, and it is simply glorious. Alex Tripp
The latest single from NY artist Maŕa is swathed in shadowy atmospherics and powered by jittery rhythms, ghostly & magnificent. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 2, 2021
This is my absolute favorite album of all time, words can not even begin to describe how much I love it. It nails the concept of dementia as an album perfectly 100/10. I don't know if I could find anything better than this. rod