#9tantiope

[bluetapes]

Artwork outtake from blue twenty-two: Wild Anima

[femalepressure]

SarrSew (aka Sara Bigdeli Shamloo): vocalist, lyricist, composer + 1/2 of 9T Antiope + 1/3 of Migrain Sq. + also working in theatre, film and dance

https://soundcloud.com/sara-bigdeli-shamloo

[littleprettyautomatique]

9T Antiope (@SaraBigdShamloo & @Nima_Aghiani) Unperceived Records 

[strictlybutterpod-blog]

Alexander’s Ambient Saturdays #009: Syzygys by 9T Antiope.

Iranian experimental duo 9T Antiope debut album Syzygys is not for the faint of heart. Composer/producer Nima Aghiani is excellent at creating both minimal industrial tense based passages, and softer lush ambient pieces lead with pads and strings. From my initial listens, it’s middle section vaguely reminds me of Trent Reznor’s/Atticus Ross’s Soundtrack Work On The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. But that’s where the comparisons end. These pieces are built on a quiet tension and sense of melancholy. Sara Bigdell Shamloo vocals are eerie yet beautiful, and will put you in a wide-eyed trance. Her lyrics are poetic with a dark folklore-esque feel to them.

The final track “Succumb” is built on a variation of samples: chopped vocals, synth bass, fuzzy sounding bells, and an eastern influenced violin motif. Shamloo sorrowfully expresses the following passage. 

Coiling Dark Beneath them men It’s near / here

There is something about Syzygy that sounds like a sorrowful reaction to the chaos of the world. Between the production, vocals, and lyrics, this is one of the most original sounding projects I’ve heard all year. I’m still formulating my final thoughts on this album, but at the moment it has crash landed into being one of the my favorite albums of 2015 as the year closes out. It is a testing but absolutely rewarding listening experience if you can handle it.

Full Album Stream