SIMULACROSS & MECIŽÄND «Шляхціц Завальня, або Беларусь у фантастычных апавяданнях» (2019)

The Russian and Belarusian avant-garde groups Mecizand and Simulacross craft a dark union on the fantastical, occult collaborative album Šljahtic Zavalnja, Abo Bełarus u Fantastyčnyh Apavjadannjah. Alongside a few key guests, these 15 musicians map a murky path through folk music, free jazz, and dark ambient, tied together with distinct touches of musique concrète. Though they are all credited on many of the tracks, Simulacross favor songs that feel built to invoke a trance-like state—like the bluesy and ritualistic “Vasil”—while Mecizand focus more on atmosphere building, as on the tropical dark ambient of “Vužovaja Karona.” What ties everything together is guest singer Irina Hlushets who, in addition to playing cymbals, lends her haunting vocals to four tracks. Occasionally bringing to mind Yoko Ono’s distinctly wavering delivery, Hlushets unifies both bands into one vivid séance on “Narys Paŭnočnae Bełarusi” and “Ad’ezd (Zakančenne).