| Tour 08/01/08 Castlefest, NL Castlefest
08/02/08 Castlefest, NL Castlefest 08/08/08 Summer Darkness Utrecht, Utrecht 08/09/08 Folkwoods, NL Folkwoods Discography
|
Irfan (from the Arabic word meaning "knowing") is an ethereal band from Sofia, Bulgaria. They have around since 2001 and their second album, Seraphim was released last November.
Unlike a typical rock n roll band, consisting of a guitar/bass/drums, Irfan uses a wide range of musical instruments - at least eight, usually from old European origins. With all these instruments, I'm sure it's a nightmare taking them on tour - which I see they're playing a few dates in the Netherlands.
Listening to Seraphim, I just instantly think that this would make a great soundtrack to some medieval movie or an emotional drama.
Most of their songs are not typical pop records, they're usually slow to build and lasts at least six minutes. I don't recall hearing any English at all (they all sound like Gregorian chants).
There's also an amazing usage of percussion instruments, such as the darbouka (hand drum) and daf (a round Persian pan-like percussion). You can hear them in such songs as "Hagia Sophia" and "Vernal Garden" (which I'll include for you to listen).
There are two rather nice bookend songs called "Invocatio", which are placed near the beginning and ending of the album. As the name implies, they're sort of short prayer songs.
Seraphim is out now and can be purchased Dancing Ferret Records in the US, and Prikosnovénie Records in France.
02/09/2008 00:11:41
vu
my♥posts
myspace.com/irfantheband
