The genius behind New Laconia, Ukrainian experimentalist Alex Syniakov is back with Stardust Bear Bazaar, Pt. 2 - a song that is not a song, but a jagged hole to some parallel universe. Continuing the plot of the previous one, the new release immerses the audience into the world of the project with its well-developed universe even more, in which an interdimensional pub, time loops, and cosmic intrigues intersect.
The song is a musical masterpiece of eclecticism. Syniakov mixes in a warm piano chords, melancholic accordion and skronking saxophone with dissonant electronic touches to create disorienting and hypnotic soundscape. The vocals, which are both haunting and theatrical, are the pathfinder in this maze and their tonality reflects the emotional stakes of the story. The changes of tempo come out like plot twists, leaving the listener constantly balanced and yet fascinated.
Thematically, Pt. 2 continues the saga of The Bear, the mysterious owner of the pub and also brings in The Stranger, a stardust-covered character who is lost in a different reality. The villain of the story is Time, which distorts the very structure of the story, making characters (and listeners) doubt the cause and the self. It is heady stuff, but New Laconia is a genius at making the abstract feel carnal, the accordion wheezes with a nostalgic wist, and the distorted synths mimic the nauseous feeling of a timeline unraveling.
The most impressive thing is the way Syniakov combines disorder and order. Arabic accents are butted up against sci-fi noise; jazz-tinged moments give way to avant-garde improvisation. Nevertheless, it never seems excessive, as all flourishes are in the service of the story, the credit of New Laconia and its narrative-based style. Stardust Bear Bazaar, Pt. 2 is not only a song, but a call to get lost in a place where music has no gravity and genre. To those who are tired of conventional art, New Laconia is an exciting escape. The debut album can’t come soon enough.
