Ľahká Múza - Piesne Ticha/The Songs of Silence (2024)
By Flork
After a bit of a hiatus (actually, a long one), Ľahká Múza emerges once more from the shadows of the darkwave underbelly in Slovakia with a masterfully-created collection of compositions called Piesne Ticha (The Songs of Silence). This is a good thing. It is so amazing to hear Gudrun’s strong, haunting vocals and 667’s guitar talents again with the usual (or perhaps higher) intensities and depths connected to their style. And although they have had changes in personnel over the years, it is great that the core of this group has stuck together for 40 years now. And so, listening to the first track Martajo took me back to a time in my past when industrial sounds were somewhat new and mysterious. The 1980s saw New Wave music flood radio stations across North America and Europe, as well as its sub genres like New Romantic, pop music where keyboards and electronic drums substituted guitars and drum sets. MTV had not only introduced the world to new sounds and variations that stemmed from rock, hard rock, metal and even disco, but also to fashion and hairstyles. In those days, pharmacies and drug stores profited heavily from sales of hair dye, spray, and eyeliner. But what punk was to metal, industrial was to New Wave, and consequently it was heavily criticized. Undoubtedly, it was the black sheep of the family with groups from Germany emerging, such as Kraftwerk or Die Artze, as well as Nina Hagen who blended all of the above-mentioned sounds and yet stayed somewhat obscure for much of her career (on purpose, she never had any intention of selling out nor becoming a commercial name). And because the music Ľahká Múza performs is, in fact, none of the above, it is appropriate to call their style of music Darkwave, a genre hard to describe in complete accuracy, but which certainly doesn’t allow in any light.
And while I listen to Martajo, with its suspenseful and slowed-down beat, I wonder what underground bands like Ľahká Múza were wondering or feeling during the 1980s, especially coming from behind the iron curtain where songs were approved on the basis of a “zero harm factor” or censored completely, and knowing that any wrong move with regards to text or even the length of one’s hair could mean immediate arrest and lifelong suffering. In fact, Ľahká Múza didn’t release their first album until after the Velvet Revolution, when it was somewhat safe to play publicly and publish without persecution or negative repercussions.
Despite the 10 or so years between Piesne Ticha and their last release, Ľahká Múza have not seemed to miss a beat. Nor do they appear to have even aged. Songs like Identita (Identity) and Hry (Games) are signature as well as timeless, and I realise the band is able to attract several audiences, not just those who are loyal to the genre, but also fans both older and younger alike of other genres, those who enjoy elements of darkness and the macabre and live shows that are far from ordinary. It’s great to see Ľahká Múza back and thriving. I particularly like V Zrkadlách Pocitov (In the Mirrors of Feelings) and Lenavilo, the latter is great with its vocal harmonies and dark imagery. The majority of the tracks incorporate a subtle, yet heavy drone sound in their backgrounds. This adds to the shadowy ambience, giving the entire album an element of suspense and foreboding nature. All of this was mixed and mastered quite craftily by Richard Sabo at eXcentriX studio. His style of production is particularly evident in the title track, which is my personal favourite on the album. The remaining tracks, such as V Kalných Vodách (Muddy Waters), Zlom (A Break), and Riavy (Torrents), all of which I’m guessing derive on themes of stormy nights and floodwaters and end the album without any hidden surprises or changes, just the suspense that predominates throughout. Piesne Ticha concludes exactly the way it begins, on neither a positive nor negative note, but a dark one.
And the Florkman’s prognosis? By far one of the best things to come out of Slovakia in 2024. I am so pleased to know that Ľahká Múza are once again out there and can easily dominate the scene. They have played relentlessly over the years, even at large festivals throughout Europe and I have no doubt that we will be seeing them soon on stages here in Slovakia or abroad. Piesne Ticha cements their position as iconic and professional musicians, an unbreakable ensemble who enjoy their craft and do it so well.
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