I'm currently studying Russia in my history class so I was eager to hear this album - both to hear Havalina Rail Co's impression of Russian folk music and to explore the imagery they were reputed to employ here. To prepare for this album, the band studied Russian culture and music, without actually listening to any of the music, and mixed what they'd learned with their other influences to produce a very fresh sounding album.
The sound certainly isn't authentic slavic folk music, but those influences, along with some jazz and swing, are all evident. Instruments range from the standard guitar/bass/drums to washboard, saxophone, violin, flutes and cello. This mixture works better on some tracks than others, a couple of the tracks leaving me a little cold (if you'll excuse the pun). The vocals are well performed (although they felt a little constrained on the first track), and the lyrics are filled with imagery.
around twilight time,
I guess things turn blue,
the lights in the sky are not yet on high
I can only be thinking of you,
and there's nothing that you can do,
to avoid touching down,
won't you send me a crown that says in a way,
I need you
( from "Twilight Time")
If you're looking for something a little more experimental and avant-garde than average, then this album will almost certainly appeal to you - an interesting mixture, demonstrating that experimentation does live on in modern music.
3 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Exit Zine 1999Reviewed by James M. BranumHavalina Rail Company is truly unique among bands in either the Christian or secular industries. And in their uniqueness, Havalina has created something truly special. In their latest album, Russian Lullabies, they incorporate elements of Russian folk music, rock, rockabilly, classical, and jazz, and yet never completely identify themselves with a particular genre. The album is a concept album…Puddlegum 1998Reviewed by Kevin FlickHavalina Rail Co. is a band of artistic musicians that are ahead of their time, and should proudly bear the honor of being called avant garde. Their latest release, Russian Lullabies, is a daring musical masterpiece, driven by the central theme of lost love capitolizing on symbolism of the cold Siberian tundra. If an artist was searching for popularity, the direction that Havalina has gone would…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Josh SpencerI read somewhere that the Co. studied traditional Russian music without actually listening to any, and then reproduced what they'd learned for this album. They do this with drums, plenty of background vocals, saxophone, violin, bass, male and female vocals, percussion, flute, a washboard, cello, xylophone, and guitars of varying types and tones (but usually not all at once)--their usual eclectic…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Shari LloydThe music on this album is described by the band as their attempt to do what Stravinsky once did for jazz. Without ever hearing jazz, he attempted to compose pieces based on what he had read about it. The music ended up nothing like jazz, and like nothing else either. In this case, one can definitely hear the Eastern influences in the music. Based on the romantic images they found in literature…Similar sounding releases
2004WovenhandConsider the Birds
2004Woven HandConsider the Birds
2003Viva VoceLovers, Lead the Way!
2000Joseph ArthurCome to Where I'm From
2000ThouPut Us in Tune
2004CastanetsCathedralMore from Havalina Rail Co.
2001A Bullfighter's Guide to Space and Love
1994Havalina Rail Co.
2002Space, Love & Bullfighting
1999America
