Rey & Kjavik-Rkadash: Album Review

Experiences from travelling abroad to exotic locales such as Istanbul, mega cities New York and San Francisco to the Ukraine and Germany loom large in “Rkadash” the 2nd LP from Frankfurt, Germany based Rey & Kjavik. Drawing on those diverse experiences, comes forth the sounds heard while abroad, most prominently— Arabic and Indian are featured throughout the album’s tapestry of sounds instilling middle-eastern mysticism expressed through the usage of the music’s traditional means in a modern technical environment.

The bass-lines are hard, the pace of the songs range from down-tempo to tech house with the gorgeous electronics spanning the realms of house, progressive and tech take the listener on a spiritual journey through the power of music. Throughout, you hear how emotive this new musical direction is for the producer. Looping harmonic chants begin the heady ‘Intro’ putting the mind into an open space of audio delight; “Ulima” features a bouncy low end bass-line and rapid and thumping percussion beats amid muted vocals. “Saraswati’s” darker rhythms accented by male Arabic vocals and middle-eastern influenced electronics, string instruments and driven by a danceable beat. “Baba City’s” fast rhythmic styling’s inspire dance movement. “Vimalaa” showcases a Minimal/Deep Tech slant with a very catchy and an infectious dance groove, interspersed with great electronic sound effects, a real highlight of the album. The title track “Rkadash” delves in to a deep house state rolling along with steady synths and a cascading melody with chants dropped in the background and building tempos. “Escape” is a progressive house fuelled by electro and robotic style vocals. “Playa Sunset” is another highlight track.

Formulated as a Tech House cut, the bouncy and sweeping electronics are layered in organized chaos form. ‘Akya’ returns you back to trance inducing vocals with big bouncy bass and deep house beats primed for big rooms. Closing the album is “Hare Sharanam” wraps up with slower beats, tranquil vocals, acoustic and electronic instruments showing off a wonderful mixture of magical soundwaves. This album really surprises. Initially, my expectations were a collection of songs for meditation, with middle-eastern over-tones and influence. Well, I was partially correct, when you get right down to it, the spiritual elements fused with modern dance rhythms and technology have blended together these ten songs, resulting in inner reflection, happiness, peace, and in most instances, the urge to dance. Arabic, Indian, and the region’s historical traditional music in general, as has played a big role in the realization of the album. Rey & Kjavik displays the creative expression shaping these music forms with today’s modern technologies and dance sensibilities as something unique and rarely heard.

Buy it here.

Rkadash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—Leo Weaver

 

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