Music > Album Reviews

Jambinai - Onda

27/07/19

How can I even start to describe Jambinai and this, their third album? Their sound is rooted in the post-rock likes of Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky or Slint but it isn’t just guitar, drums and bass. As well as guitar, Lee Il-woo plays the oboe-like piri and taepyeongso, whilst Kim Bo-mi, and Sim Eun-yong play haegeum and geomungo - members of the fiddle and zither families - respectively. These Korean instruments may sound strange to anyone who has grown up in the Western musical tradition but they give Jambinai a truly unique, utterly enthralling sound. 

Album highlight Sun. Tears. Red. is stunningly brutal with monk-like chanting giving way to what can only be described as rap and some truly cathartic screams of rage. In The Woods starts with beautiful delicacy and build-up to a symphonic climax. The title track starts with militaristic, motorik drums and hypnotic geomungo and dream-like vocals. There is some captivating interplay between haegum and taepyeongso before guitar and choir come in to glorious widescreen cinematic effect. 

This is a truly stunning album that anyone with an interest in heavy but questing and inventive music should check out. 

9.5/10