{"id":11254,"date":"2026-01-12T17:12:37","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T16:12:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/?p=11254"},"modified":"2026-01-25T20:47:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T19:47:17","slug":"her-%f0%9f%87%ac%f0%9f%87%a7-monochrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/en\/mini-review-en\/her-%f0%9f%87%ac%f0%9f%87%a7-monochrome\/","title":{"rendered":"H\u00e9r \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 Monochrome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On Monochrome, you hear a mix of Slavic melodies and Scandinavian atmospheres, Nordic fusion and jazz. This Polish band draws its inspiration from 11th-century Norwegian wisdom poetry.
The album opens with slow, soft sounds. The throat sounds give it an extra special touch. The lyrics consist of a single sentence that is repeated monotonously. This fits in with the staccato rhythm of the percussion. The blend of vocals and (string) instruments, and the structure, is unusual but intriguing. ‘Needles and Bark’ has only a few sentences. These are repeated in different ways, always with passion.
\u201cPatience in Observation\u201d is less experimental than the other tracks, but also feels partly \u201ctrance-like\u201d.
While the contrasting (jazzy) \u201cPraise the Day\u201d is partly restless\/fiery.
The seven tracks contain a unique combination of percussion and (string) instruments. The saxophone is usually added subtly, and the synthesizers blend beautifully with the music. Silence and power, light and shadow are wrapped up in a very unusual atmosphere. This atmosphere is not easy to describe; you really have to \u201cfeel\u201d it for yourself. Because \u201cMonochrome\u201d is one of the most extraordinary albums ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(7\/10 (Season of Mist)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Social media<\/strong>:
Facebook: H\u00e9r<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tracklist<\/strong>:\u2028
01 – Chant – (10:47)
02 – Needles and Bark – (4:57)
03 – Going Down – (4:19)
04 – Patience in Observation – (3:02)
05 – Slipknot – (6:24)
06 – Praise the Day – (6:08)
07 – Farewell – (6:32)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Line-up<\/strong>:
Maciej \u015awiniarski:<\/em><\/strong>\u2028
Vocal, Percussion
Tomasz Chy\u0142a<\/em><\/strong>:\u2028
Vocal, Violin, Synth Percussion
Piotr Ch\u0119cki:<\/em><\/strong>\u2028
Saxophone, Percussion
Tomasz Sadecki:<\/em><\/strong>\u2028
Bass Guitar, Synth, Percussion
S\u0142awek Koryzno:<\/em><\/strong>\u2028
Drums, Percussion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guest Musicians:<\/em><\/strong> \u2028
Magdalena Kura\u015b \u201eFreya\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Monochrome, you hear a mix of Slavic melodies and Scandinavian atmospheres, Nordic fusion and jazz. This Polish band draws its inspiration from 11th-century Norwegian wisdom poetry.The album opens with slow, soft sounds. The throat sounds give it an extra special touch. The lyrics consist of a single sentence that is repeated monotonously. This fits … Read more, available in English and Dutch<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"generate_page_header":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[276],"tags":[310,305,303],"class_list":["post-11254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mini-review-en","tag-jazz-en","tag-scandinavian-atmospheres","tag-slavic-melodies"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7wJLW-2Vw","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11358,"url":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/en\/mini-review-en\/tusmorke-%f0%9f%87%ac%f0%9f%87%a7-balderdom\/","url_meta":{"origin":11254,"position":0},"title":"Tusm\u00f8rke \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 Balderdom","author":"Esther Kessel-Tamerus","date":"10 februari 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Balderdom is Tusm\u00f8rke's 13th album. If there's one thing you can expect from this Norwegian prog rock band, it's that you never know what to expect. Their music contains unexpected twists and unusual combinations\/alternations between rhythm and melody, among other things. The sound has a retro vibe, and Balderdom is\u2026","rel":"","context":"","block_context":{"text":"Mini review","link":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/en\/category\/mini-review-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MR_2026_Balderdom.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11420,"url":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/en\/cd-review\/karibow-%f0%9f%87%ac%f0%9f%87%a7-ophelia\/","url_meta":{"origin":11254,"position":1},"title":"Karibow \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 Ophelia","author":"Esther Kessel-Tamerus","date":"11 april 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Karibow began almost 30 years ago as a one-man project. This German multi-instrumentalist, Oliver R\u00fcsing, still sings and plays most of the tracks himself. \u2018Ophelia\u2019 features tien tracks, which explore ways of escaping tragedy without becoming overly emotionally fraught. \u2018On Higher Ground\u2019, for example, has an optimistic sound. Oliver says:\u2026","rel":"","context":"","block_context":{"text":"CD review","link":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/en\/category\/cd-review\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ophelia.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11398,"url":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/en\/mini-review-en\/axel-rudi-pell-%f0%9f%87%ac%f0%9f%87%a7-ghost-town\/","url_meta":{"origin":11254,"position":2},"title":"Axel Rudi Pell \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 Ghost Town","author":"Esther Kessel-Tamerus","date":"28 maart 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"With powerful riffs and catchy melodies, guitar legend Axel Rudi Pell has been captivating his fans for over 35 years. His latest album is called \u201cGhost Town\u201d. The instrumental \u201cThe Regicide\u201d is followed by \u201cGuillotine Walk\u201d. A man has been sentenced to death and, on his way to the scaffold,\u2026","rel":"","context":"","block_context":{"text":"Mini review","link":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/en\/category\/mini-review-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MR_2026_Ghost-Town.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11405,"url":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/en\/cd-review\/neal-morse-band-%f0%9f%87%ac%f0%9f%87%a7-l-i-f-t\/","url_meta":{"origin":11254,"position":3},"title":"Neal Morse Band \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 L.I.F.T.","author":"Esther Kessel-Tamerus","date":"31 maart 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"\u2018L.I.F.T.\u2019 is the latest concept album from the Neal Morse Band (NMB). \u201cThe album is a spiritual journey,\u201d says Neal Morse. \u201cIt begins with being connected, then becoming disconnected, and subsequently being reconnected with God\u2019s help.\u201d The meaning of \u2018L.I.F.T.\u2019 has been kept open on purpose; now the listener can\u2026","rel":"","context":"","block_context":{"text":"CD review","link":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/en\/category\/cd-review\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/L.I.F.T.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11224,"url":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/en\/cd-review\/icu-now-and-here-30th-anniversary-edition\/","url_meta":{"origin":11254,"position":4},"title":"ICU \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 Now and Here \u2013 30th Anniversary Edition","author":"Esther Kessel-Tamerus","date":"16 december 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Thomas Gl\u00f6nkler is the frontman of the German neo-prog band ICU. Thirty years ago, 'Now and Here' was released, exploring human existence through a confrontation with our inner nature. 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