Band:	Kauan
Album:	Tietäjän Laulu
Style:	Doom metal, Folk metal
Release date:	November 30, 2008
Guest review by:	omjaimes

01. Vmesto Slez
02. Kyynelten Sijaan
03. Pesnja Materi
04. Äidin Laulu
05. Prozrachni Cvetok
06. Orkidea

When I heard Kauan for the first time I felt that finally I had found a metal band that could entwine with any landscape, those kinds of landscapes that we only note when melancholy is joined with the calm. Maybe beauty is the right word to define them music, but this Russian combo built this beauty with resources that sometimes seems very limited in metal music, I talk about things as originality, balance, and non-pretentious art intentions.

The second album Tietäjän Laulu (it means Wise Man's Song) is a journey through old landscapes sketched with deep poetry. It is musically characterized for its wonderful melodies, accompanied by flowing arpeggios and synth atmospheres. Piano, violin, and guitar frequently strike up conversations, while the drums and bass build a solid and precise rhythm to fill these simple but accurate harmonies. Of course, Anton Belov is a connoisseur's musician, the piano lines reflect talent and knowledge, and overall the entire ensemble is very well built; there are no loose pieces. Moreover, the vocal lines manage to transmit the poetry in the lyrics: here the strength of rough vocals are a gentle resource, and instead clean voice of Belov recites the words with delicate passion.

Another detail that we can bring out of the production are the ethnic vocals and instruments appearances, which draw a mind-blowing and antique scenery, old as the melting snow and the orchid sprouting from the rock (these things are common images in this work). Likewise, I guess that we have in this landscape little moments of daze played by an abrupt guitar distortion; there, nature does not seem so mild. Beyond all these things that I spoke of, I find that the synth lines are adding mystery and arcane feelings to this journey; to me these sensations are evident when I see the cover art.

Finally, after checking the other Kauan albums, I think it was the last step in their metal era, at least for the moment. But in spite of its temporary nature, all the elements in this album seem to work well, the final goal of the experiments is the innovation, and this album get this on a brilliant way. Perhaps, the band had composed better albums, but in that art piece, we have novelty, true soundscapes, and beautiful simplicity.

To me the highlights are: "Vmesto Slez" (Instead of Tears) and "Äidin Laulu" (Mother's Song) one of the best atmospheric songs I ever heard, the vocals on it are just wow.