stoa - zal

.:: STOA was founded in 1991. Olaf Parusel (comp./arr.) looked at this time for a new way to connect his musical and philosophical thoughts.
He found a voice in Conny Levrow. In the same year the first song "Stoa" was released on the compilation "From Hypnotic ... to
Hypersonic" (Hyperium) The CD "Urthona" (Hyperium) followed in
1992. This CD was selling more than 14.000 copies worldwide.

Both members worked a lot in other projects in the years before.
Conny played the violin for more than 10 years and performed in many orchestras. Besides this she sang in some classical choruses and as a soloist. She is familiar with barock and romantic compositions like G.F. Handel, E. Grieg or Pergolesi.


.:: Although Zal represents only the 3rd album by this German trio, it is also the band’s first release in nearly eight years. However, despite the length of time between appearances, sToa’s devotion to neo-classical, orchestral, music with delicate female vocals, which has become synonymous with Hyperium’s Heavenly Voices collection from the early 1990’s, remains constant.

Fans of that series and of sToa’s previous releases will certainly not be disappointed by Zal: a lush and somber collection of poignant and emotional songs that are at once melancholy and stunning. "I Held the Moon," one of three instrumental tracks on Zal, opens the album with nearly 3 minutes of expressive, wilting piano – providing a fitting introduction to both the album and the song that follows: "Alone" in which the vocals of Antje Buchheiser manage to be commanding while also seemingly haunted by some ancient wound.

The effect is brilliant. Lyrically, "Alone," like nearly all the tracks on the album, pays homage to a famous poet, in this case James Joyce. Other poets whose words are woven into lyrics on Zal include Keiji Sayama, Paul Verlaine, William Shakespeare, and William Blake. The one exception to this rule is Zal’s 3rd track: a remake of Black Tape For a Blue Girl’s "I Wish You Could Smile," an absolutely inspired arrangement that manages to evoke both great anticipation and luscious heart break.

Beautiful moments are so numerous on this release that it’s impossible to choose a peak. However, there are two gems not to be overlooked, beginning with the album’s 5th track "Maare," which begins with the steady rise of rhythmic synth work, (evocative of the harpsichord), and is soon joined by Antje’s vocals, as well as a brooding cello solo that nearly weeps with yearning. Another equally beautiful moment on the CD is found in the 7th track "Winter," which is also the album’s final instrumental arrangement.

Defined by soaring violins, heartrending cello, and somber piano, "Winter" paints its eponymous landscape as both bleak and breathtaking. Overall, Zal is a release that fans of sToa’s prior showings will find to have been worth waiting for, while new fans will scramble to get their hands on the band’s first two increasingly difficult to find albums Urthona and Porta VIII. However, what both new and old fans alike will share after having tasted the Zal, is the hope that its follow up will not be quite so long in the making. JENNIFER JONES



download: stoa - zal

pass: indie-ground.blogspot.com