THE LIQUIFIED THRONE OF SIMPLICITY

The Liquified Throne of Simplicity captures Slovenia’s unique geographical positioning at the crossroads of Central Europe, the Balkans, and the Adriatic, characterized by a rich, primal landscape of mountains, deep forests, and karst formations that evoke both a desire for escape and a source of inspiration. Drawing from this contemplative and energetic geography, the Slovenian trio of Iztok Koren, Ana Kravanja, and Samo Kutin has created an album filled with intuitive transcendence and reflection through their distinctive sound cycle, The Liquified Throne of Simplicity. This album, along with several older compositions, will serve as the main inspiration for their concert at the CODES Festival in Lublin.

Most of the compositions were conceived during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the trio traversed remote parts of their homeland, reconnecting with nature while searching for inspiration. A significant motivation was the exploration and discovery of an increasingly lengthy list of exotic instruments, transforming found objects, and constructing new, effective devices, such as acoustic resonators (made from springs and frame drums). The existing sound palette was expanded to include the Balkan “tempura brač” mandolin/guitar, the Middle Eastern frame drum “daf,” the wind instrument ocarina, the lute, and the North African three-string, skin-covered bass “guembri” (an instrument characteristic of the spiritual music of Gnawa from Morocco). These additions complement the wide array of instruments used by Širom, such as the lyre, viola, three-string banjo, balafon, ribab, and mizmar, along with the traditional hurdy-gurdy.

ŠIROM explores a rich tapestry of musical approaches, tools, sound histories, and unrestrained musical imagination and craftsmanship as guiding principles of the trio. Their repertoire includes over a dozen instruments and at least as many musical forms, which inspire the character of the ensemble. However, they remain anchored in the creative process to such an extent that they avoid merely reproducing existing patterns. This generates an original, stylistically cohesive form of expression that oscillates between a broad range of folk sounds and contemporary acoustic meditations in a rock style. The end result is a rooted yet mystical minimalism.

Širom’s music is contemplative but can also take on sharper forms; it is closer to band music than to chamber music, more aligned with the street than with urban salons. Over the past nine years, the group has released four albums—“I.” (ZARŠ 2019), “I Can Be a Clay Snapper” (Glitterbeat Records 2017), “A Universe that Roasts Blossoms for a Horse”(Glitterbeat Records 2019), and “The Liquified Throne of Simplicity” (Glitterbeat Records 2021)—and has performed extensively across Europe.

Širom Members:

Ana Kravanja – viola, daf, ocarina, mizmar, balafon, ribab, various objects, voice.
Iztok Koren – guembri, banjo, tank drum, bass drum, percussion, balafon, various objects, bells.
Samo Kutin – hurdy-gurdy, tempura brač, lyre, lute, brač, bells, balafon, frame drum, ocarina, acoustic resonators, various objects, voice.