Hala Strana / These Villages
Album: These Villages   Collection:General
Artist:Hala Strana   Added:Nov 2004
Label:Soft Abuse  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2005-06-19 Pull Date: 2005-08-21
Week Ending: Jul 24 Jul 10 Jun 26
Airplays: 1 2 1

Recent Airplay
1. May 22, 2007: Into The Nada
Meitas Gula Abolaje
4. Jul 05, 2005: lick my moody guitar show
Wood Scree
2. Oct 28, 2005: beat.net chapter 23.0: the resonanting toad
Wood Scree
5. Jul 05, 2005: Storytime!
Wood Scree
3. Jul 19, 2005: Lick My Moody Guitar
Meitas Gula Abolaje
6. Jun 22, 2005: Brownian Motion
Meitas Gula Abolaje

Album Review
The Bawd Of Euphony
Reviewed 2005-07-29
Hala Strana • These Villages (soft abuse)
The third record from Mr. Steven R. Smith’s Hala Strana project produces haunting Dark Eastern European inspired folkness. Although this is not your granddad’s folk record. Following in the paths of Jewelled Antler alumni, mr. smith drones with his acoustic devices ands weaves and beautiful path of instrumental folk gems. Lots of cool acoustic guitar, screetchy violins and textures. Im a big fan and this record makes me a bigger one. GREAT STUFF!!!
–the bAWd of eUPHONY

1** (6:11) Hammered dulcimer starts. Moody and open with light drums. Beautiful, haunting
2* (3:00) Bass and skreetchy violins. Very weird and dark. Vioin takes off into oddness
3** (3:07) Loopy drones, sound like they were recorded on micro cassette. Very open. Drums enetr towards the later half.
4** (4:30) drone continues into this one. More drum oriented w/ double bass and accordian
5** (3:34) Very raga-ish, layed acoustic guitars and Indian drone. Very cool and groovey!
6* (3:25) Odd sound begins, violin drill drone enters w/ violin ontop. Eerie and rad!
7** (3:43) Violin drill continues and melts into some eastern horn. Enchanting!
8* (3:45) piano and guitar. Open and warm
9* (3:42) Odd intro with violin drone. Background drummer creates cool texture.
10* (2:02) Awesome sounds with guitar. Very odd
11* (3:53) Sounds continue and violins take-over. Slow and droney with cymbol swells.


Track Listing
1. Wood Scree   7. Nepdal Tarogaton
2. Dressed in Rushes   8. The Carved Yoke
3. The Great Season   9. Dilkash
4. October   10. Peal
5. Meitas Gula Abolaje   11. For G. Mesmer
6. Fear of the Land   .