“Empire” and "Aria" by Symfomania, Ukraine

SYMFOMANIA – “Aria”

The second album of all female Ukrainian band SYMFOMANIA shows us a band that has matured a lot. Their first album “Empire” contained an instrumental symphonic rock closer to baroque music and the songs didn’t surpass the length of four minutes. This time the compositions are much longer and show more adventurous soloing by all players. The arrangements are all well balanced and show all possibilities of the string quartet. The playing is again impeccable, but the solos have gained so much in diversity.

Symfomania consists of two violins, played by Veronika Chernyak and Maria Brodova, who may also be held responsible for all string arrangements, a viola played by Valentina Bugrak and a sometimes very heavy sounding cello played by Daria Sedova. The band is completed by keyboard player Olga Aidinova and drummer Victoria Milevskaya, so this leaves us with a band without guitars. This choice of instruments supplies Symfomania with their very characteristic sound by the often very tight playing string quartet.

The compositions are all originally vocal compositions by Ukrainian artists, here executed in elaborate and adventurous arrangements, showing all virtuoso talents of these conservatory graduated girls.

The album starts with the mysterious sounding “Street Of Roses”, carried by a solid rhythm section supplied by the cello and the drums. The violin soloing by both violinists is superb and daring.

The heavy side of Symfomania continues in “Coliseum”, another solid arrangement by Maria Brodova, where again the darker sounds are supplied by the combination viola/cello over the double bass drumming by Victoria Milevskaya.

“Ash Breeze” is a more introverted piece, that starts off with a little Beethoven quote. The sound of the string playing, well supported by the piano is warm and intense. In “Road Hero” the more heavy side of the band is displayed once more. It shows some dazzling virtuoso violin playing and I think it’s one of the best succeeded songs on the album.

The“Ballad Of An Old Russian Warrior” starts with a pizzicato motif played by the cello and it is the composition with most tempo and character changes.

Throughout the album the more heavy sound is alternated by softer and more melodious compositions, sometimes flirting with the kitschy like in “Ice Splinter”.

The album concludes with the solid “We’ll Rock This World”. An exciting and well produced album, where I can only regret that keyboard player Olga Aidinova could only be heard so little in solos. I think it might prove a true enrichment of the arrangements if she showed more of herself.

I enjoyed a lot this second album of Symfomania and I could advise it to anyone who wants to try something different. You will get an extremely well executed and beautiful instrumental album. Of course you can always visit their official web site www.symfomania.com.ua or http://www.myspace.com/symfomania.

Erik de Beer.

SYMFOMANIA – “Aria”

auto production Ukraine 2010

Playing list:

1. Street of Roses 4:38

2. Coliseum 6:31

3. Ash Breeze 5:34

4. Road Hero 4:24

5. Ballad of an Old Russian Warrior 5:32

6. Last Sunset 5:02

7. Ice Splinter 5:21

8. Heavens Will Find You 5:07

9. Angel’s Dust 6:00

10. Take My Heart 4:10

11. We’ll Rock This World 5:56

TOTAL PLAYING TIME : 57:35

Credits:

Maria Brodova – violin

Veronika Chernyak – violin

Valentina Bugrak – viola

Daria Sedova – cello

Olga Aidinova – keyboards

Victoria Milevskaya – drums

Producer: Aleksandr Milevsky