Soolmaan releases ‘Ikaros’, the third single ahead of their album ‘Kashgul’, set to release on January 24th 2025. Tristan Driessens sheds a light on the three immersive tracks:
Mashrab the Madman
“Following an extended three-part structure, Mashrab the Madman starts with a melody based on an atypical 29/8 rhythmical cycle. The composition then modulates to a straightforward middle section directly inspired by early 20th Century gypsy music of Istanbul, with its haunting çifte telli 8/8 rhythmical pattern and its powerful nocturnal Saba scale. An extended oud taksim (non-metrical modal improvisation) subsequently modulates from Saba to the Acem Aşiran and Kürdi scales, before re-exposing the opening melody to mark the end of the piece. Mashrab The Madman is dedicated to my friend, the great Egyptian riqq and bendir player Adel Shams El Din.”
Prayer for Nature
“Based on an ancient Andalusian mode, Prayer for Nature is a composition that evokes the awakening of a new day, the announcement of new life at the break of dawn. On concerts, I often enjoy playing Prayer for Nature as the opening track, because I think it is very representative of both the typical instrumentation – oud, cello, tenor saxophone and percussion set up – and the modal jazz oriented musical direction of Soolmaan. Starting with a syncopated melody, Prayer for Nature quicky creates room for a series of short improvisations expanding like a joyous dialogue which celebrates the beauty of nature.”
Ikaros
“Ikaros is an epical and rather intense contemporary modal composition intended to be a direct musical evocation of the myth of Icarus. Virtuoso percussionists Andrea Piccioni (tamburello) and Levent Yıldırım (percussion set up) maintain a continuous groove throughout the first section of the piece. After the main themes, the two ney flutes (Christos Barbas and Nathan Daems) start to improvise simultaneously, evoking the wings of Icarus who, blinded by ambition, risks flying either too high or too low. The final section of this composition is introduced by a fiery sax solo that further emphasizes the atmosphere of menace. Stylistically, this composition borrows modal and polyrhythmic elements from Indian music, with its tihai resolutions and overall melodic structure.”
Soolmaan performing ‘Ikaros’ live @ Concertgebouw Brugge, February 10th 2023
Pre-order ‘Kashgul’ -> https://soolmaan.bandcamp.com/album/kashgul
Give ‘Ikaros’ a spin -> https://song.link/be/i/1790334063