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Bilkis : EP (UK,2006)***'
Bilkis is Sophie Pathan who wrote her first song at the age of four ("Three wise rabbits") after an earlier vocal composition at the age of two. Ten years later she had formed a heavy metal band. It was only later she learned guitar and started to write acoustic songs. The first and last track of this 9-track demo reveal how Sophie is able to create nice instrumental compositions too, with an attentive ear for creative and colourful sound combinations and rhythm. From a distance the album sounds simple and enjoyable, reminding slightly at Diane Gluck, but with calmer emotions. With a more attentive listen, I could hear how much work was put into the details. Most tracks have very nice close-multitracked vocal harmonies created with her own voice -on "White" the vocal arrangements of Mellow Candle quickly came to mind-, and also other detailed arrangements with a core of 'keep it simple but effective and clear'. Some rhythms used are a kind of walking rhythm (on the "untitled" first instrumental) or a peddling-a-boat more colourfully arranged rhythm (on "ever"). Hereby I want to mention another fine rhythmic/colourful sounds combination, of some simple earth-like drum with on-beats with some metal sound and a nicely use of off-beats with them on "Such amazing skies", both also in harmony with the high pitched guitar. And also the last track shows something similarly clever, on the short instrumental "Blue Bird" which is based upon a 5/8 rhythm with an almost Frippian but kept simple-and-clear guitar idea, combined with some basic rhythm guitar and other rhythms. Most tracks are lead by acoustic guitar, but I heard also some ukulele on the "Over the rainbow" cover, an interpretation with simple vocals this time, and bird whistling. A very nice demo.
