It is difficult to remember sometimes that we should never base our opinion of a country or its people on the starkly depressing news we see daily, even when it is obvious that a leader or regime has and continues to act abominably. Most peoples around the world really are just like you and I, wanting a peaceful, culturally and physically fulfilled life, so it is a great pleasure to be able to report on an album hailing from Russia, Myth from Sun Q, a project led by Ivan Shalimov (guitars, keys, and bass) and Elena Tiron on vocals with numerous guest musicians. They have featured quite well recently on Planet Rock.

You can hear all of this on Bandcamp at https://sunqband.bandcamp.com/album/myth and do take some time to read the band’s preamble there, which is interesting, from the fact they were unable to complete this album’s production in their mother country and their opinion, which I share, that this is the time when people need metaphysical experiences, bridging gaps between the subconscious and logic. They state that they draw musical inspiration from the creative legacy of the 1960’s through to the 1980’s, so let’s see if this is something refreshingly original, or something a little more of an imitation.

We start with Jane Doe, that name used when a female cannot be identified, anonymous. You are immediately hit by a huge noise, voices, guitars, brass before Tiron comes seductively into our senses. The whole thing is gorgeously dirty, filling the senses with sexual tension, a very interesting take on 1960’s psychedelia, the last verse having a distorted voice leading, all the while the track pulling you in with its relentless beats. A very impressive start.

This is followed by Children Singing. This was a single release, and it is embedded below. Straight from the off, I am struck by a tone and power in Tiron’s voice akin to the much-missed Sinead O’Connor. The song itself suggests voices calling from the ether, reminders of past lives calling to us in the here and now. The guitars are dark, calling to us alongside swirling keys in a strong stoner rock track, the ethereal voice, and effects three minutes in especially satisfying, with the end segment drenched in mystery.

Tree has a darker tone to it, the vocals speaking of the inherent power within the tree, the music majestically putting across the force of nature. There are some interesting effects produced, a strong rhythm section, but also some rather dystopian orchestral strings impacting in an interesting mix. The guitar solo two minutes in from the end is fantastic before the menace returns in the strings overlaying the voices and noise underneath, before Tiron screams out the tree’s call to us in a manic denouement of noise and frustration. Superb.

Animals is another single from the album and is embedded below. Horse, cow, and dog feature in a tale of spirit guides calling to us down the aeons. The track features the Swedish instrument, nyckelharpa, and is a very thoughtful, almost suppressed, rhythmic piece which draws you into its sphere, the vocals especially evocative and putting one in a northern dark winter environment. Folk roots music at its best.

Dionysus was the ancient Greek god of wine, or Bacchus as adopted by the Roman pantheon. He is, therefore, a particularly favourite deity of this reviewer! Incidentally, what the health freaks prevalent in modern media, warning us of the dangers of the grape and hop, seem to forget is mankind’s long and bountiful relationship with drink, something which can enhance and bring joy to life, both physical and spiritual. The track, as one might expect, bursts into life with some crunching riffs, the key noises inviting us to dance around the hearth. Swirling, full of psych prog rock in a call from halcyon days of yesteryear, a joy to listen to.

I Am The Sun talks to us of the worship of sun, moon, and stars, those intimate and immediate influencers on our daily lives, and worshipped as such to this day, and this dreamy, hypnotic song recreates rituals of ages and races across the globe, with an eastern tinge Harrison would love and recognise before something altogether more modern blasts out of our speakers, a thrill of screeching voice and a Gothically hard riff filling the senses, with the “take me home” cry especially full of feeling.

Still Searching for the Skulls is old, ancient, talking to the new, young. Musically and vocally, it is deliciously pretty, deliberately understated in its impact before Tiron uses her voice as a lead instrument completely filling the room, overlaying the thumping drums and effects. The denouement has a haunting guitar alongside the main vocal theme of the 17-year-old. It is embedded below. It will win a “Mythical Piece of 2024” Award on this website. It is stunning.

Elizabeth Siddal was a nineteenth century model, artist, and poet, known for posing for and working with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, dying tragically young. The lyrics are deeply intelligent, evoking this profoundly influential woman on modern ideas of beauty, and the music takes you back to the Woodstock generation of American folk artists who had such an impact on our present musical culture, albeit interspersed with modern effects and orchestration. Steamy, dreamy, a fine slab of folk-rock music.

We finish with Crystal Doors, and I think that this track is a commentary on more modern troubles and issues we face, especially in this extremely talented act’s homeland with its talk of the darkest hour. It goes round, and round, and round, pulling you into its circle of thought and light against the backdrop of the dark epitomised by the sheer grungy power of the guitars. The bassline on this with the disturbing strings accompanying the guitar help to build up a deep intensity before Tiron introduces the final segment in a wave of noise, dystopian keys swirling and whirling  before the explosion takes on a vastly different, pastoral symphonic turn, a simply beautiful guitar burst before the industrial grunge reasserts itself to a fitting close.

Myth is a stunning piece of work. Seriously impressive, I am so delighted to have been provided with the opportunity to review it.