It is somehow mystical to come across a song that is like a dim memory of a dream, and Banter of Wolves by Ophelia Moon is all in that sense of being in between worlds. The project, based in Philadelphia, conceived by Darren O. Moon with the luminous contributions of Maya Mikity, produces sonic landscapes that are simultaneously archaic, and unaccountably futuristic.
Since its initial ethereal strata, Banter of Wolves lures you into what one Italian critic aptly termed, a viaggio mistico, a mystical journey, which unfolds with a measured hypnotic panache. The brilliance of the track is in its smooth blending of seemingly incompatible things: the raw naturalness of folk is combined with the smooth refinement of electronica, dance-pop beats are contrasted with the reflective tunes.
The voice of Maya Mikity is beating heart of the song- confident and vulnerable, down-to-earth and otherworldly. Her voice moves through the changing musical landscape with an instinctive ease that makes all the transitions seem natural and not abrupt. Nothing is cold in her performance, even the most transcendental moments seem very human.
The recording is expertly sparse, and the individual parts are given room to breathe yet there is a subtextual motion which keeps you grounded. It is soul searching dance music, still with the mud on its boots, electronic music. The manner in which the acoustic textures are intertwined with the synthetic ones makes it sound timeless and simultaneously urgently modern.
Ophelia Moon has done something really special here, a song that is both self-reflective and dynamic. The album does not simply have an album about rebirth and transformation, but it is one, a listening experience that is like seeing your own spiritual transformation. It is the music that unfolds a new dimension each time you hear it and it pays off those who are patient to listen to it, as they can experience deep emotional connections.