Something Natural
Crash Symbols, 2021
8/10
Chikiss consists of the Russian singer, composer and electronic artist Galina Ozeran, who has been making music for nearly 20 years now, and rarely sits in one place too long, as evidenced by this diverse and very alluring listen.
“Тема дома” leads the listen with a healthy amount of synth, where a dreamy climate is cultivated with plenty of warmth and charm, and “Maaaмм” follows with an ambient sense of mystery that’s nearly sci-fi in its iconoclastic vision and strategic droning.
Deeper into the listen, “Gizem” offres a hazy blast of atmosphere, while “Fete” nearly feels like she’s playing a child’s toy as it emits a soothing, lullaby feel. “Progressive Class”, one of the album’s best, then thumps and glides with a more rock focused display that flirts with prog-rock, too.
“Как вороны” lands near the end and bristles with a low intensity that’s quite cinematic in its unique appeal, and “Только для тебя” exits the listen aglow in cozy keys and a buzzing landscape where vocals are blurred like an instrument.
Somewhere between New Wave, folk, psychedelic and avant-garde sounds, Chikiss makes the most of every second present in a very atypical bedroom pop sort of way, and, like everything on the Crash Symbols label, it comes on a high quality and very eye catching cassette.
Travels well with: Log Across The Washer- It’s Funny How The Colors; Julie Hill- Julie Hill