Shay Tal - "Tambourina"
(Dynamite Vision 2007, EBSCD 55)
Shay Tal - "Tambourina"
(Dynamite Vision 2007, EBSCD 55)
From Aural Innovations #38 (January 2008)
Shay Tal (formerly Shay) is the UK based duo of Finn Millar on vocals, guitars, clarinet, piano & keyboards and Stephen Robson on drums, autoharp, keyboards and backing vocals. It's been some years since their debut album, Dreamers and Stalkers (see AI #18), but their sophomore effort, Tambourina, has been well worth the wait. The band have a unique sound that will be instantly recognizable to anyone who heard the first album. Finn's vocals are dreamy and whispery, yet with a slightly gravelly edge. The music is song oriented, with a highly ethereal blend of psychedelic folk, plus progressive rock influences that inject a sense of musical adventure into the mix. From the jazzy dreamscapes of "The Bottom Blue" and "Train (If I'm Dreaming)", to the emotional prog fused "Born in the Winter" and "We Dream Of This", the seductively psychedelic "Kingfisher" and "All Of Your Friends Have Changed", to the spacey meditative raga grooved "Deadly Nightshade"… 13 absolutely gorgeous mind expanding tracks. It's difficult to accurately describe the Shay Tal sound… you've just got to hear them for yourself. Check 'em out.
For more information and to hear music you can visit the Shay Tal Myspace page at: http://www.myspace.com/shaymuzic.
Visit the Dynamite Vision web site at: http://www.dynamitevision.com.
Email Shay Tal at: shaytal@talktalk.net.
Reviewed by Jerry Kranitz