P R E S S

TERRASCOPE
    
"One listen to opener 'Bardos', will convince of the magnitude of this disc, the music dragging you into a place where time dissolves and nothing is certain. Throughout the album, the drummers keep it tight, whilst the synths and voices destroy the senses in beautiful fashion, until the low drone/percussion piece 'Pure Lands' offers a place to touch down."
www.Terrascope.com 

SUBSCAPEANNEX
     "Sikhara was fantastic. I'm used to drum circles, but I'm not used to seeing a central drum pile. Two solid drummers, and a third leading the action, also drumming, but being possessed, shrieking and ululating, acting not normal."
www.Subscapeannex.com

FILTH FORGE
    
"Then it was time for Sikhara.  Great stuff.  Power electronics combined with a aggressive drum circle.  Sounded a bit like Test Dept.  But also original, and even with a touch of choreography.  Very intense.  Good enough that I took home a CD of their work for further study.  I am left with the mental image of three energetic young men attacking a drum kit from all sides, with vigor and a sense of earnestness that was impressive and thoughtful."
Filth Forge

CHAIN D.L.K.
     Expect thundering rhythms on different type of drums and bells, mixed in with, and interleaved by, noise, electronic vocal processing and occasional chants. If you need references think of a sonicly maximized blend of Les Tambours Du Bronx, Merzbow, SRL, Neurosis, Einsturzende Neubauten, Dive and stuff like that.
http://www.ChainDLK.org

 

HEATHEN HARVEST   
     "Sikhara utilize ritual percussion and analogue synth tones accompanied by indecipherable electronically processed vocal incantations to present a tribute to the soporific opiates of the poppies."
www.HeathenHarvest.com

 

 

 

SHORT, FAST + LOUD! MAGAZINE
     "Sikhara approach music/sound with primitive soul, esoteric beauty and strong, fortified rhythms...Forceful and consistent throughout, their blend of competent drumming and layered atmospherics (quite surreal at times) kept my interest from beginning to end of this offering...hypnotically crafting a docile yet deadly whirlpool of rotating beats and lunar cushions being pulled to the center of all other directions while turning itself inside out).  The work is reverent and earned my respect after one listen."
Short Fast + Loud!

EAR-RATIONAL
   
This is a surprising oddity. Middle-eastern sounding music recorded live in Japan. That then mixes with aggressive and fast tribal drumming, akin Crash Worship. The two intermix and really get you moving. Damn, I like it! Hit me again! The music continually morphs - at one point sounding truly ethnic to minutes later it has turned into an experimental fest of effects pedals. Fascinating! Always keeps you guessing. The parts are strong in the separate elements, and together it is a whirlwind of a powerful performance. Each track is distinct - not one long jumble, but a new start. Wohoo!
www.Ear-Rational.com

LN.
     Faisant table rase des carcans stylistiques, Sikhara se réapproprie les cultures et les influences. Tout en piochant son inspiration dans la tradition arménienne et géorgienne, le duo poursuit son exploration musicale au sein du label URCK et propose avec *Anduni*, un album complexe et schizophrénique.  En ouvrant leur univers dans un  enchevêtrement de ricanements dements et de grognements gutturaux, le duo Nyddeger/Geoffriaud interpelle et interroge. De cette entrée en matière âpre et énigmatique, se développent cependant peu à peu des atmosphères et des sensations multiples.  Graduellement, *Anduni* gagne en profondeur, oscillant entre vagues rythmiques, lamentations et éructations guerrières. Du brouhaha organique de voix et de râles torturés émergent des grondements sourds et tribaux qui s’intensifient pour soudainement exploser en une déferlante de percussions et de psalmodies obsédantes. Brusquement pourtant, le rythme se rompt et la tensions’effondre, laissant place à un chant pur et envoutant. Comme sorti des limbes du temps, un air lugubre et mélancoliques’élève au milieu d’un entrelacs lent et discordant d’instruments. Dans cette accalmie fantomatique et glaçante Sikhara semble se ressourcer pour ensuite retrouver toute sa vigueur. De manière sourde et lointaine d’abord, le roulement des percussions reprend ; les incantations mystiquess’élèvent puis redoublent, et c’est dans une transe désarticulée et tribale qu’*Anduni* trouve son apogée. Lentement pourtant, cette apothéose se rétracte comme aspirée en un souffle. Les chants s’évanouissent en unmurmure et *Anduni*s’achève dans une brume confuse et intrigante.

     Profond et envoutant, cet album* *laisse derrière lui,* *comme en suspend, un univers à la frontière de la folie et de la transcendance. Et c’est avec force et brio que Sikhara marque son retour.
 www.myspace.com/Ln1000

 

 

 SIKHARA!