https://www.feeder.ro/2020/02/19/ghostophonia/

Ioan Titu aka Silent Strike teams up with Felix Petrescu and Valentin Toma aka Makunouchi Bento for a very special electronic music treat titled “Ghostophonia”. Loosely based on the folklore music from the region of Banat, Romania, collected and recorded by Béla Bartók on phonograph cylinders roughly a century ago, the 13 tracks reveal an eerie experience designed with carefully crafted atmospheres, modulations and effects. The concept album was created for the Retracing Bartók concert series organized by Jazz Updates in collaboration with TM 2021 and curated by Lucian Ban and Jazz Updates. The artwork is signed by the very talented visual artist Sorina Vazelina, with whom the MaBento duo previously collaborated for the artwork of “3 Electrical Snowghosts“, while the video component for the live show is made by Dan Basu. The LP also marks the first release delivered by Cinemaude, an independent local record label focused on cinematic and experimental electronic music.

Silent Strike and Makunouchi Bento are well-known for their intense activity in the contemporary music scene for quite some time now, both projects having a rich discographic history as well as numerous performances and international collaborations under their belt. For this material, they created an immersive and multilayered journey that blends old sounds with modern equipment and techniques, bringing forward a mind-bending approach to music which has been almost forgotten in the mists of time. From complex drones and otherworldly textures to deep static insertions, grainy vocal samples and abstract percussive elements, this LP has all it takes to become a classic release for the Romanian experimental music culture.

When the Sun Falls Silent, the first pack of ghosts start painting the walls bright red. Their lips clatter repeatedly, summoning Winds Veiled in Darkness. Skeleton horses and old rusted carriages slowly carry their families to the Underwater Cemetery. Heavy chains Break from the Cellars, crawling on their bellies across the scorched grass. Merry Scythe-Wielding Crones collect mandrake by the new moon’s light. Boats made of pork ribs and lard Slop Wretched after completing their task. The bride’s uncle creaks his bones to the Rhythm of the Noose. Soldiers with golden buttons for eyes glean their Lost Youth from the TV. Any Hidden Beholder would transform into a hollow tree when spotted. Ghosts of the Fallen Hunters feed the ghosts of their pray with table scraps. If they can hear us now, it will be Our Turn to Hear Them. The violin player launches into a joyful song, his Fingers Gliding over the diners. All return to the deafening train Descending to the Center of Earth.