Folian/Blue Mirror/Anima Recordings/2020 Full Length Review

  Folian  is  a  solo  artist  from  Portland,  Oregon  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  drone,  shoegaze,  post  metal  and  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  album  "Blue  Mirror"  which  will  be  released  in  2020  by  Anima  Recordings.

  Ambient  style  drones  start  off  the  album  while  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  The  songs  also  mix  in  a  great  amount  of  post  rock  elements  as  well  as  all  of  the  drum  beats  also  being  programmed  and  the  vocals a re  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  heavy  riffs  also  adding  in  elements  of  sludge  and  post  metal.  The  riffing  also  utilizes  a  decent  amount  of  melody  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  field  recordings  and  psychedelic  sounds  as  well  as  some  elements  of  noise  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music,  a  couple  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  sticking  to  a  slower  musical  direction.  and  as  the  album  progresses  touches  of  shoegaze  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  duality  of  being,  and  the  struggle  for  balance  and  clarity  during  an  intense  emotional  struggle.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Folian  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  drone,  shoegaze,  post  metal  and  noise,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Go  Alone"  "Unwanted"  and  "Erasure".  8  out  of  10.

“Unwanted”: SPOTIFY || DEEZER || GIGWISE Premiere

Folian Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the musical project since the recording and release of the new ep?
I did a short tour around the Pacific Northwest with Troubled By Insects following the release of Ache Pillars, and since then have been focusing on a release plan for the next album, which will be out later this year, as well as booking and playing more shows in the mean time.

2.Recently you have released a new ep, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
I consider this the first "proper" Folian release, in that it is structurally a more song-based work, rather than the past few releases which have been more drone/sound art type pieces. It is mostly centered around guitar, which everything else built around it.

3.According to the facebook page you refer to your music as being 'experimental sludge-pop', can you tell us a little bit more about this term?
I'll admit the term "experimental" is quite broad but there is always a degree of improvisation that goes into creating this work, using and exploring a variety of instruments. There is definitely a poppy element, however subtle, both structurally and vocally. I thought "experimental sludge-pop" just sounded a little fun, and I don't mean it to be very definitive.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as a songwriter over the years?
Much of the lyrical content deals with the feeling of being stuck or unable to emotionally depart from the past. Other ideas explored are escapism, fear and depression, and confronting these things. I think my songwriting style has always been a bit free-flowing, meaning there is no set formula I ever follow. It can be totally improvised recording, layering, and experimentation, or it could be a song I wrote on acoustic guitar that I want to translate into an electric work. Often times, its a mix of both.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Folian'?
Its a made up word with no previously defined meaning. I know the word has been used places before but I don't pay mind to it. It means something to me.

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new ep cover?
My friend Crystal Lee Lucas does incredible conceptual and thought provoking photography work. Though the image was complete and selected after the music had been finished, it represents this EP very well.

7.On the recordings you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?
I do enjoy the freedom and the process of recording everything myself, but I do often work with other musicians, both related to the project and not. I play in several bands with people I love, and I have had friends contribute sounds to upcoming Folian recordings. I have not performed with additional musicians in this project before, but it is something I would like to explore.

8.What are some of the best shows that you have done over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
I've had the pleasure of playing some great shows with this project, but my favorite would have to be the EP release show that happened in April here in Portland, OR. It was just a really dreamy night, and I felt really good about it. Recently I have been doing a lot of video work that I incorporate into my live sets via projector. This adds an element that I felt was important to the experience of what I do. I like to create a space for myself and others where it is comfortable to just let go.

9.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
I have several shows coming up in Portland, and plan do to some touring later this year or early next. I just bought a van so I'm hoping to get myself and another on the road shortly.

10.The new ep was released on 'Apneic Void Sounds', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?
Apneic Void specializes in beautifully packaged, short-run cassette and CD releases. The catalogue consists of lots of different sounds ranging from harsh noise to mutilated bedroom pop/rock. My good friend Daniel runs the label.

11.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of experimental, shoegaze and metal?
Like a lot of bands, I think the music is a lot to digest for people who are totally unfamiliar with the project, but it seems to have been received much better than I had thought it would.

12.When can we expect another full length and also where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?
New full length due out later this fall with some touring to support it. I have a few other releases in the works with this project, and also play in some other bands that will be releasing music and playing shows. Personally, I would like to score film and do some soundtrack work for film and video games even.

13.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I really like a lot of new music, but otherwise I've been listening to lots of David Bowie, Unwound, Black Moth Super Rainbow and stuff. I feel like I'm often influenced by friends and music they make, or have made... I just feel closer to the music when I know the person. It's a beautiful things to see an artist as a piece of living art. Lately, Troubled By Insects, The Stargazer Lilies, Drowse, High Tides, Juracan, Body Shame, Planning For Burial, Elrond, hold a special place within me... These are all excellent musicians and people and I love what they do.

14.What are some of your non musical interests?
Cinema, hot sauce (I like to make my own), and currently house hunting. Also, my cat, Nebo.

15.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Come out to one of my shows and say hi!

6/2 - Portland, OR @ No Fun Bar
w/ Giardia, CHIBI

6/14 - Portland, OR @ Speck's Records
w/ Juracan, Matt Pollock

7/13 - Portland, OR @ High Water Mark Lounge
w/ Elizabeth Colour Wheel, Drowse, Taarna

7/25 - Eugene, OR @ Old Nick's Pub
w/ Zvi, Entresol

Thank you!

https://www.facebook.com/folianpdx/

Folian/Ache Pillars/Apneic Void Sounds/2019 CD Review

  Folian  are  a  solo  project  from  Portland,  Oregon  that  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental,  drone,  shoegaze,  metal  and  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2019  album  "Ache  Pillars"  which  was  released  by  Apneic  Void  Sounds.

  Harps  start  off  the  album  and  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  experimental  and  avant  garde  feeling  and  after  awhile  atmospheric  soundscapes  and  clean  guitars  are  added  onto  the  recording.  Melodic  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  drones.

  Programmed  beats  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  great  amount  of  shoegaze  elements.  When  heavy  riffs  are  utilized  they  bring  in  an  influence  of  metal  into  the  music  as  well  as  some  blast  beats  being  utilized  when  the  drum  beats  speed  up.

  Harsh  noises  and  aggressive  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  song  structures  bringing  in  some  chaos  mixed  in  with  more  of  a  clean  style.  All  of  the  tracks  sound  very  different  from  each  and  the  closing  track  is  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  also  introduces  a  touch  of  psychedelia  and  melodic  guitar  leads  onto the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  dreams,  depression,  love,  fear,  and  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Folian  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  experimental,  drone,  shoegaze,  metal  and  noise  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ghost  In  The  Flesh"  and  "Where  All  This  Dust  Comes  From".  8  out  of  10.

https://apneicvoid.bandcamp.com/album/ache-pillars 
https://folian.bandcamp.com/album/ache-pillars