Tet 41

Sibel Kocers debut album was inspired by her first trip to Vietnam, where she experienced the traditions of her mothers side of the family for the first time. The visit took place during the Tết Lunar New Year celebrations, and the albums opening and closing tracks incorporate field recordings of traditional music, street sounds, conversations, and atmospheric noises. The compositions were written using a limited hardware synthesizer setup, and they tend to feature cleanly recorded, sparkling melodies that delicately pop and shimmer. There are no beats guiding or driving any of these tracks, but most of them contain a steady rhythmic pulse, and pieces like "Hoa đao" are able to express more without being obscured by percussion. "Đa Nẵng" has a sly, clever way of bending notes and incorporating soft drones. "Dragon Bridge" is more outwardly expressive and melodic as well as one of the more energetic pieces, exuberantly traveling without moving. "Gio" is another highlight, with rippling melodies and slightly melancholy chords shining down from the stars. Tết 41 is a travelog that uses modular synthesizers to channel and illustrate the feelings and sensations of a voyage to a distant yet familiar land. ~ Paul Simpson