The self-proclaimed Cyrillic songstress and “DIY producer of everything” Galina Ozeran is back under her solo nom de théâtre of CHIKISS after her 2022 album ‘Metamorphoses’ with Turkish musician Etkin Çekin as GOD IS GOD.

Ozeran grew up in Belarus playing classical piano before becoming a professional musician, self-releasing her first mini-album as CHIKISS in 2007. Her most recent CHIKISS album ‘Something Natural’ was a collection of lo-fi instrumental avant-garde works in a variety of different styles, so ‘Between Time & Laziness’ is a return to song-based material. Her willing conspirator in the process as co-producer is Athens-based Finn Jaakko Eino Kalevi whose own double album ‘Chaos Magic’ was the best release of 2023.

With tensions in her homeland and a war with its neighbours, Ozeran’s exile to Berlin sees her weighing darkness and light. As existential, psychological, and philosophical concerns shape her most polished vocal album to date, she expresses the turbulence of the world around her as it appears to go full circle into the uncertainty that exemplified the Soviet era.

Photo by Epiq Sty

With a delicious exotic groove, ‘Evil Sky’ enters an atmospheric cocoon of mysterious cinematic synth and stark spoken word to open ‘Between Time & Laziness’ proper. But true to her eclectic colours, ‘DKN’ plays with jazz swing rhythms and filmic synth textures…. conventional this certainly isn’t!

With ominous bass and whirring electronic lines, ‘Nevesta’ canters at a near funereal pace; however the ‘Between Time & Laziness’ title track develops on this bed and speeds it into a glorious spy drama passage of squelch, freeform soloing , icy strings, random organ and breathy vocals that will delight those into sonic randomness with some structure.

Embroiled in resignation, ‘Train Schedule’ is deep in contralto with a gothic allure, but when the glorious arpeggiated sparkles and chordial layers appear alongside the synthetic drums rolls, it recalls the elegiac moods of PET SHOP BOYS ‘Kings Cross’. Although drone-laden, ‘4:45’ is moody synthpop possessing that classic rainy European chic inspired by the moment in Rapid Eye Movement sleep when the illusion feels most real.

Photo by Anna Eckold

With memories of the first space race, ‘Into The Void’ goes into dark romantic synthpop with a nouvelle vague drama that even sees disco syndrums and some wonderfully anachronistic Spaghetti Western whistling from Jaakko Eino Kalevi come into the picture.

Across 11 minutes ‘Don’t Be Afraid’ utilises a long ambient intro before entering into an electronic take on JOY DIVISION’s ‘I Remember Nothing’ in its bass and rhythmic movements although the orchestrated synth lines are haunting and strident in their appeal, especially as they get more epic as the time flies by… closing with ‘Forever’, this hope of a better future sees Ozeran playing with eerie vocal ad libs over an incessant drum machine for a less song based variation of the title track.

Like a history of electronic expression, there is an aural familiarity to ‘Between Time & Laziness’ but none of the influences are blatant, presenting more of an impressionistic amalgam that offers reassurance in its musical empathy as an essential comfort amongst the disquiet.

With the aim “to find an outlet for accumulated emotions, and transform them into music and light”, Ozeran has succeeded in producing an absorbing body of work that while accessible, is tinged with sadness and melancholy so runs deeper in its emotions and sentiment than a regular pop record.

‘Between Time & Laziness’ is released in vinyl LP, CD + digital formats by Bureau B via https://chikissecrets.bandcamp.com/

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Text by Chi Ming Lai
5 December 2024