b r a n d o n

Given that Azigza's debut album was pretty much universally hailed as a brilliant meshing of progressive rock and various "world musics", it's odd that no one even seemed to notice Kriya, the follow-up album, until practically a year after its release. Even now, it seems underappreciated and rarely discussed, which is a shame, as it's in many ways a better album than its predecessor. Vocalist Cyoakha Grace, who dominated the first album to an extent that was not necessarily for the best despite her strong, clear voice, is no longer a full member of the band, though she does provide the vocals on a number of tracks. The vocals are now more of a group effort, which benefits the band as a whole since other singers as well as the instrumentalists are allowed more room to shine. Kriya seems slightly less richly produced - a bit more clinical - than its predecessor, perhaps because of the loss of Cyoakha Grace's full leads, but also perhaps because of a distinct shift towards a style of interplay between guitars and violins that reminds very strongly of 1980s King Crimson. "The Wall" in particular sounds like its guitar and bass tracks could have come straight off of Discipline. The other tracks distinguish themselves a bit more, however. "Yaman" is a blissful nine-minute organic soundscape full of flute, softly swelling strings, quiet percussion, and Cyoakha Grace's lilting vocals placed slightly back in the mix. "A Bulgarian Suite" reminds of "Ratzinitza" from the debut album with energetic strings playing traditional Bulgarian melodies and building to a tremendous climax full of pounding percussion. And the closer, "X", is perhaps the most prog-rock of the whole bunch, achieving what I think is a near-perfect mix of rock and folk elements, with more Crimsonish guitar and bass interwoven with complex violin lines that break out periodically into more exotic melodies. Oh, and there's a sweet (if brief) guitar solo in there to boot. Azigza has really carved out a unique niche for themselves; they are without a doubt one of the only American bands out there that is capable of combining rock elements with genuine "world music" elements without sounding fake or condescending. Yet with all that said, both of their albums leave me slightly cold. I loved the debut for a while but rarely listen to it any more; and I feel that though Kriya is undoubtedly a better album - less repetitive, less vocal-dominated, better compositions - the same may apply. I wish I could pinpoint why I feel this way; the music stands on its own (I would absolutely love to see these guys live; I can only imagine the intensity of their show) and, aside from my odd personal feelings, it is nothing if not commendable. review by Brandon Wu — 1-7-05 —