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Svoy � Eclectric Review

by Erika Szabo

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Born in a small port town in the Russian Far East, singer/songwriter Svoy first rose to fame on his much acclaimed debut album, Eclectric. After studying at the Russian Academy of Music, Svoy was offered a scholarship to Boston's Berklee College of Music. From there, he began recording original songs and won two music competitions in the process. After compiling these songs into Eclectric, Rendezvous Entertainment quickly picked up the album and so began Svoy's journey into music stardom.

The robotic vocals on this disc lure listeners into the rapid and highly textured beats whether they are house, R&B, trance or chill-out in style. He remains compelling and imaginative in his search for perfect sound. The playful "The Other Side" visits joyful trance pads and deep club beats. The rich and sensual "Looking For You" reverberates moody piano keys reminiscent of Enya's expressive magnum opus, Watermark. Svoy's vocals croon and bloom into a song that is both emotional and obscure. Enthralling as these songs might be, the awkward "I Don't Love" and hesitant "Stronger than Wind" provide a different kind of experience. With Svoy's vocals already being so delicate, the beats can either make or break his songs. "Shy", most likely the best and most promising song on this album, remains lucid and expressive in its melancholy sound and thriving lyrics. Unfortunately, Eclectric falls back into old habits in "To What It Used To Be" isolating Svoy's vulnerable vocals. This song feels lifeless and even a bit unsettling compared to many of the inviting songs on this album. Even mediocre songs like "On My Own", "Cared More" and "One Night Stand" sound more alive with their perky, poppy and R&B infused house beats.

Though this is a promising electronica album, it has many drawbacks. The unemotional appeal of Eclectric probably comes from the awesome beats that seem to envelope the listener in their twists and tangles. But when used improperly, songs begin to collapse and break under the listener's ears. Fortunately for Svoy, this happens sparingly. Rich in layers and diverse in sound, Eclectric proves to be a riveting album despite its vulnerable interior.


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Svoy � Eclectric
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