Gnäw - II

 

Released: March 7 

Gnäw is an unusual experimental product that is the result of two distant cultures melding into a single project. The two artists behind the project, Arash Ghasemi and Simo Hakalisto, bring the two distinct musical cultures of Finland and Iran together in an unusual tapestry that leans heavily into the realm of traditional folk music in a way that feels natural and intuitive. It persistently leans on he more traditional aspects of both styles, with each coming out more prominently at certain points over the other. The setar is  seemingly ever-present throughout all six tracks but the percussion elements play a defining role as well in the absence of a more stereotypical drum set, which shows up exactly once on the album to wonderful effect. 

There is at least one track in which the more experimental synth elements seem to override the more traditional instrumentation, which is the nearly ambient “Eeteripyörteet.” Here we hear the presence of the electric bass as it carries the most movement in a way that feels like a slow walk through the mist. The atmosphere feels slightly tense and overwhelmingly mysterious throughout, with just a few sparse hits of percussion and slow swells of the violin. Moreover, it slides perfectly into the next track “Derakhshesh, Su Su, Koor Su” which is the one track that features a full drum set. It has a similar mysterious vibe but as it progresses it leans much more int the direction of a folk rock vibe. But that somewhat ambient aesthetic is there as well, even with the setar ringing about its little licks. 

I truly enjoyed the somewhat hodgepodge nature of the album. There’s a lot of very interesting combinations that result from the willingness to mash divergent techniques and instruments together. Some of it come across as a bit hectic at times, like around the middle of the third track “Purinlauta” as the confluence of sounds becomes almost overwhelming. But it’s very well timed as the guitar strums have a certain rhythmic breath to them that gives the other elements their moment to shine. But of all the tracks, this one certainly feels the most intensely psychedelic in my opinion and it is well placed right around the middle. Overall, it’s just a unique experience that makes great use of the array of motifs provided by the diverse influences.