Sivan Levy - ‘side: w’
Photo/ art by Alon Shastel
Israel-based Sivan Levy has just released the amazing new EP, side: w, a collection of work that amalgamates dream pop with ambient music in a way that creates something unique and powerfully moving.
Immersed hauntingly in a mechanical, rhythmic, in places an almost swirling atmosphere, the EP opens with “Forgot.” A moody and dark ambience is created as sustained piano tones progressively merge into the marching, pulsing arrangement. Like most of the EP, strings are used in order to create a sense of texture and elegance.
“Kick Off” exudes a Portishead-like vibe, with textures melting and droning as they help to build tension. Rich, hauntingly atmospheric sounds are allowed to intertwine around subdued piano and a rolling groove that has been created by the bass line.
In “My Far Away Femme,” layers arpeggiate over meditative piano, building a reflective atmosphere. The song carries a palpable sense of yearning for intimacy, which is cleverly enhanced by the subtle groove of electric percussion. With moments of warping and dreamy swirls of sounds, the song is truly ethereal.
“When the Winter’s Coming In” is the next song. I reviewed this a few weeks ago, so will allow you to read in further depth here.
“Steams” begins with a punchy kick drum that bounces throughout the track while mellow bell tones from an electric piano pad the composition contemplatively. The song builds gracefully with elements allowed to linger tenderly, creating a beautiful sense of anticipation. At its climax, the song evolves into what feels like a melancholic stream of consciousness. There is a palpable feeling of raw, intense pain and longing.
The EP closes to the track “Silent Legs” which has a satisfying lo-fi vibe. A slow pulsing kick drum sets the song’s tempo, but layers have a feeling of meandering around it as if it is not the track’s anchor point. The low electric piano tones and reflective melodies gradually build up into an ethereal, vibrant soundscape. Psychedelic tinges are also present in the panning violin. This song is an intriguing and beautiful epic, which perfectly closes this EP.
Throughout this EP, the vocals of Levy can only be described as intensely beautiful. The often breathy and intimate performances convey a tangible sense of haunting emotion and feeling. Levy leaves the listener with a genuine sensation that profound sadness and emotion have been harnessed in order to craft this EP, yet we are at times carried soaringly and immersively to places we want to get lost in forever.