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Wednesday, March 26, 2025

The Blue Knots and the meditative crystal illusions of "Sidra"

 

"lavender siren blows / versions of earth work..."


The meditative crystal illusions of "Sidra" by The Blue Knots, the curious musical project of Danielle Stech-Homsy, feels like a stream of consciousness, sideways leaning as if to fall into some abyss, maybe through a purple portal. Running on cyclical chords, there is simplicity here and glitchy electronica as purposeful other wordly ambiance, a multi-colored psychedelic swing for Danielle's dreamy vocal countenance. While I have not heard the album that "Sidra" exists on, I get an intuitive sense that I might hear blends of baroque pop, experimental performance art atmospheres, post punk-esque dream pop, psych folk and more.

From an artistic standpoint, I could see this kind of song or sound in an indie film about other beings, strange affairs or situations. I could hear "Sidra" as a counter position soundtrack to a film like "Cuckoo" (it's worth seeing by the way) or even a David Lynch (R.I.P.) vehicle that never was.

LINER NOTES (bracketed):

["Sidra" is the opening track of the Blue Knots' debut album, "Becoming Noise". This cosmic, soaring single announces the latest project of experimental pop musician Danielle Stech-Homsy, formerly known as Rio en Medio.]

[The Blue Knots fuses influences from avant-garde classical to psychedelic folk to create surreal, impressionistic songs using primarily piano and voice. Moving in broad arcs of experimentation, Danielle paints luminous and trans-rational invitations to emotion as a destination in and of itself. Her intricate rhythms and unusual harmonies tap the mind’s capacity for slowing and receiving, an alchemy of personal and common memorial rites.]

[As Rio en Medio, Danielle released four expansive records, rooted in acoustic string instrumentation. Her first album, Bride of Dynamite, was released via Devendra Banhart's Gnomonsong label, leading to collaborations with artists such as Grizzly Bear, CocoRosie, koto master Shoko Hikage and many others. Rio en Medio’s work has garnered praise from publications such as Pitchfork, Gorilla vs. Bear, Treblezine, The Wire, Relix and more.]

["Becoming Noise" will be released on April 25th, 2025.]

-Robb Donker Curtius 

 






THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 


https://open.spotify.com/artist/4SIYDqbttkhZT53UIzmOyC

https://soundcloud.com/theblueknots/sidra

https://theblueknots.bandcamp.com/album/sidra-single

https://www.daniellestech-homsy.com/


The Blue Knots is the most recent musical project of Danielle Stech-Homsy, an American musician whose work spans the playful, the evocative and the transcendent. An evolution of her previous band, Rio en Medio, the Blue Knots fuses influences from avant-garde classical to psychedelic folk to create surreal, impressionistic songs using primarily piano and voice. Moving in broad arcs of experimentation, Danielle paints luminous and trans-rational invitations to emotion as a destination in and of itself. Her intricate rhythms and unusual harmonies tap the mind’s capacity for slowing and receiving, an alchemy of personal and common memorial rites.




The Blue Knots, dream pop, alt folk, folk, baroque pop, indie pop, surreal pop, new age, singer-songwriter Danielle Stech-Homsy, avant-garde classical, psych folk, "Sidra", new album "Becoming Noise",

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