sunneversetsonmusic | monthly music blog

ALBUM OF THE DAY 11 NOVEMBER 2025

In the Wind of Night, Hard-Fallen Incantations Whisper

ŠIROM

Released 3 October 2025

tak:til / Glitterbeat

*****

Prepare to be taken on a transcendental journey and enjoy this remarkable Slovenian trio’s mesmerizing and expansive imaginary folk soundscape.

Širom is a critically acclaimed Slovenian trio founded in 2015, composed of Ana Kravanja (violin, viola, ribab, qeychak, balafon, frame drum, chimes, various objects, percussion, fipple flute, voice), Iztok Koren (banjo, three-string banjo, gembri, morin khuur, balafon, percussion) and Samo Kutin (hurdy gurdy, bass harp, harmonium, lyres, frame drum, tampura brač, brač, lute, chimes, balafon, acoustic resonator, various objects, voice).

The band describes their work as "imaginary folk," a sound unbound by geography or tradition, yet deeply rooted in a mystic, polyphonic sensibility. Weaving together a vast array of over a dozen acoustic and often handmade instruments - including the ribab, morin khuur, and various homemade harps - they fuse folkloric motifs, contemporary classical elements, and experimental rock into long-form, hypnotic compositions. Their music is characterized by its minimalist repetition that builds to ecstatic, meditative trances, creating sound worlds that are simultaneously ancient and utterly unique.

Širom's fifth album, "In the Wind of Night, Hard-Fallen Incantations Whisper", is a colossal and captivating journey across seven captivating tracks, the longest of which stretches close to 19 minutes. This release finds the trio venturing into their most expansive and subtly melodic territory to date, without sacrificing any of their trademark hypnotic depth. Tracks like the epic opener, "Between the Fingers the Drops of Tomorrow’s Dawn," patiently coil around acoustic drones and intricate, clattering percussion, drawing the listener into a ritualistic state. The album beautifully balances micro-detail - the sound of wood, rustling strings, and faint chants - with a towering, cinematic scope.

This is not casual background listening; it’s a demanding, yet profoundly rewarding experience that is best enjoyed in full surrender, as it offers an extraordinary, seamless synthesis of disparate global sounds and untethered fantasies.