Rarely do I come across work that I feel deserves extraordinary merit and praise. The kind of work that makes me feel as if something inside of me has evolved. Work that even makes me feel proud. There are moments in our lives where we have to give thanks to producers, djs, musicians who just “get it”. Stan Kolev is one of them. He truly gets it.

Stan Kolev is no newcomer to the scene. Starting his dj career in 1996 and releasing his first records in 1999, Stan Kolev (of Bulgaria now residing in Miami) has made his mark as Future Mode, Casa Flava, Casa Bulga, Sonic Vibe as well as under his own name receiving wide support from the globally recognized likes of Paul Oakenfold, Hernan Cattaneo, David Morales, Dj Chus, Behrouz, Danny Howells and Luca Ricci amongst many others. His latest album, out on ReadyMix Records Inc., is sound engineering at its finest, comprising certain divine qualities that yank you from whatever state of mind you’re in only to bolt you into euphoria and positive pondering. A good ear for music, years of deejaying and production are all solid grounds for safe and sound musical judgement, creation and delivery. This is what Stan Kolev offers us today with the release of his first full length album entitled “Emotional Content”.

The CD’s artwork is intriguing and pretty. It also seems to harbour some sort of innocence. That same innocence draws a carefree Stan Kolev toward this vortex harvesting swirls of blue, black and lime: colours I can identify with when it comes to the album’s “freshness”. Shades of red, purple, orange, yellow and brown add to its warmth and… emotional content.

As far as the music goes, the entire experience is a gripping one. An “audibly delicious adventure” as the album’s press release so adequately puts it. Deep, soulful, quirky elements embracing house, trance, progressive, techno, electro. The album reminds me of the sultry and lush progresssive house era of early 2000. It also ignites memories of house music from the early days, old sounds that still sound new to me. In any event, Stan Kolev manages to up the ante with his own signature sound. Fresh and forward-thinking. Modulating streams of sound paving their way along sinuous musical strands, morphing into melodies and songs so endearing, so flattering, they have the ability to captivate any human mind. Various melodic possibilities have been explored in this endeavor. Some melodies arpeggiate in such ways, they evoke feelings of warmth, a sense of joy, release, sometimes sadness. No filler tracks, as each one of them has been thoroughly thought out and well-crafted, just like hand-wrought jewelry.

 Introduce it to your sound system and turn up the volume. It will instantly immerse you in a state of aural bliss. Burgeoning sounds reverberating throughout the entire room, capturing your musical cognosis, unctuous sounds melting into your soul so effortlessly, allowing you to explore other areas of your audiophiliac self. Its countless digital landscapes, its enigmatic melodies and embracing sound waves will sweep you away and take you on a unique odyssey.

The album starts with Routts. East meets West as oriental sounds carve their way nicely throughout the album. Sounds emerging from the balkans, tribal winds, a smattering of ethnic sounds and haunting Bulgarian vocals, nothing too overbearing, perhaps a call from a distance, a reminder of Kolev’s roots even, tinting the album with melodramatic content. Tastefully done.

Suspended Memories’ progressive goodness pulsates and gradually makes its way into one’s heart. Inner Sense had me moving. A groove-inflected joint, showcasing a great selection of sounds, pads, synths, scintillating all over the place. Deep This is a haunting little marvel. An alliance of deep and progressive. A djembe unleashes its crisp sound. A gypsy takes your breath away. Things get a little edgier at this point.

Get There is by far my favorite of them all, reaching me on so many levels. Good house, bluntly put. Excellent use of a rolling organ-like bassline reminiscent of early 90's house, a driving lowsub swept right under it for good measure, an emotive, trance-like melody hovering on top, subtle, yet predominant. A beautiful set of effects, all meshing into each other very well.

Don’t Be is a little offsetting and somewhat melancholic (the lyrics, ironically, want you to feel otherwise, as the soft, calming, nurturing vocal seems to utter “Don’t be so sad”...). This is where the album now shifts toward what I consider its “second part”.

F. Substance, Even Flow, Flashback, New Beginning, Hollow are insanely infectious. Right about now, you just can’t get enough of this album. The heat is on. The tempo is thumping, basslines roaring, layers and layers of fresh sounds intelligently superimposed, intense melodic hooks, uplifting build-ups and breakdowns done with finess, well-sequenced pads and addictive shakers. Distant, almost inaudible but significant brushes of bleeps, clonks and sonic twinkles slowly unravel and are a treat to listen to. Tracks become all the more captivating and tantalizing. They also bear, according to me, all the right ingredients to become bound to the dancefloor.

And what a beautiful way to sign off with the title track of this album. Emotional Content is a laid-back, cool tune that finishes everything on a high note. So fitting.

The timeless quality of this album makes it a winner in my record books. Whether you make it an afterparty favorite, or decide to plug it in during a chill-out session or at a cocktail party with friends, on a cold winter night or hot summer day, at dusk or dawn … wake up to it, dance to it, sit back and unwind to it after a long day’s journey. No matter what mood you’re in, the album’s interpretation and appreciation are entirely yours. But one thing’s certain: no shortcomings in this one. 10/10.


Florence Touliatos
Reviewer / Features Columnist www.mtlnights.com