Tamna Voda by Dark Released 1988 Label: CMP Catalogue: CMP CD 36 [ Reviewed March 2003 ]

Mark Nauseef - Drums & some keyboards
Leonice Shinneman - Percussion, vibes & some keyboards
Mark London Sims - Bass & some keyboards
Miroslav Tadic - Acoustic & electric guitars
with
David Torn - guitar & loops on 3 tracks
L.Shankar - Double-violin on 3 tracks

From the outset this album sets out with a big jazz-rock/fusion sound.  The first track Trilok is fairly heavy with a groove set down by the bass and electric guitar while the other two members bring in a veritable barrage of drums and percussion.  A whole range of percussion sounds is used including many ethnic ones.  I suppose that looking at the musicians' surnames it's not really surprising.  This track is also one of those to include Shankar weaving in and out on double-violin.  I don't know what the double-violin is but it sounds like a mellow form of electric violin, or maybe a viola.

The rest of the album is amazing in its variety of techniques and sounds.  Tunes are not the main thing here, they may be a simple repeated motif.  It's the playing around, over and under the tune that counts.  Loving care and attention is paid when adding the little touches - a bell here or some guitar there.  All of the tracks are the same sort of music but they manage to come up with so many new ideas in such a short space of time.  There is normally a lot going on with the focus continually shifting between instruments in a Progressive way; you can spend your time following any one of the players.  All of the tracks are written by the band members except Drifting which is a Hendrix cover.  This is one of the more straightforward tunes on the album, played on double-violin with the band accompanying with beautiful restraint.  There are times when you might hear a bit of raw guitar or percussion reminiscent of mid-70's King Crimson or playing like Brand X but Dark do have a style all of their own.  The music is predominantly guitar-based, and there is plenty of acoustic as well as electric.  I'm glad that there is and wish that there was more of it on other albums, Allan Holdsworth are you listening?

Keyboards are used minimally to add a background of colour.  And when the keyboards are used they manage to produce a wonderful ethereal atmosphere, especially on the Tamna Voda.  A couple of the tracks have a decidedly ethnic feel to them primarily due to the percussion, but it's not a World Music album by any stretch of the imagination.  If it was I wouldn't like it.  Most of the pieces are relatively short and could go on longer but the band obviously decided not to labour any of their ideas.  After a track finishes, the next one is so interesting that you stop worrying that the last one could've been a bit longer.

In a nutshell this album is simply brilliant, both musically and in the way it sounds.  I'm a sucker for drumming and percussion and this gives them to you in ample measure, from foot-tapping rhythms to tiny subtleties in the quieter tracks.  I would say though that while not being completely freeform Dark does contain a rich vein of jazz that may be too much for those who need more structure to their listening.  Some might wonder what the point of it is.  I'm assuming a lot of this was improvised (I'm making this worse) but don't let that put you off, it is still very musical.  The digital recording is crystal clear, reproducing everything from an in-your-face bass guitar to the shiniest cymbals, and the range in between.  This care with recording is obviously a CMP speciality.  At 42 minutes this is relatively short but it's of such high quality that you can't complain.  This is a fine stable-mate to Polytown, and if you like that album you must get this one.

Tamna Voda is the second album by Dark, the first being simply titled Dark from 1986.  Bradley Smith recommends that one as well so I'll be hunting it out; maybe someone out there has a copy I can have!

I''m not sure how long the link will work but I have found some MP3 samples here.

Tracks:
1.		Trilok	5:15
2.		Xanthophyl	1:59
3.		Sacred Heart	7:47
4.		Drifting	2:48
5.		Buzzard Luck	3:16
6.		Tamna Voda	3:07
7.		Ready To Order	5:44
8.		Smoke At Will	2:56
9.		Para	3:42
10.		Merciful	5:48
		total time	42:36

[Back to index] [Music home]

Copyright Steve Bachini