B-Side Guys

Olaf Kujat’s The Phantom String returns with “Teapoy,” a 59-minute odyssey that feels like wandering through an abandoned mansion where each room holds a different musical secret. Released on July 22, 2024, this third album under The Phantom String moniker showcases Kujat’s evolving artistry and his ability to blend disparate genres into a cohesive, if sometimes unsettling, whole.

The album’s concept, inspired by the small Indian tea table, serves as a jumping-off point for a musical exploration of the opulent and the occult. Opening with “Ornament I: Cartouche,” Kujat immediately sets an otherworldly tone. This brief track acts as a portal, inviting listeners into a world where the familiar becomes strange and the strange becomes familiar.

“Dream Veiled In Vapour” expands on this atmosphere, its languid pace and ethereal synths creating a sense of time suspended. It’s here that Kujat’s ambient roots show most clearly, but there’s an undercurrent of unease that keeps the track from slipping into mere background music.

The album hits its stride with “Secrets Of A Long-Lost Idol,” a standout track that blends world music influences with a cinematic grandeur. The use of unconventional instruments creates a sonic landscape that’s both exotic and intimate, like discovering a hidden temple in your own attic.

Kujat’s forays into jazzier territories, as heard in “Chaiselongue,” demonstrate his versatility as a composer. This track introduces a human element to the otherwise ethereal proceedings, grounding the album in a sense of lived experience while maintaining its dreamlike quality.

The “Ornament” series of tracks serve as recurring motifs throughout the album, each one introducing a new melodic theme that echoes through subsequent pieces. This structure gives “Teapoy” a sense of cohesion that might otherwise be lacking in such a stylistically diverse collection.

“Comme Reine et Roi” marks Kujat’s most successful venture into pop-adjacent territories. Its infectious rhythm and memorable melody provide a moment of lightness in an otherwise shadowy album, without breaking the overall mood.

While primarily instrumental, “Teapoy” surprises listeners with haunting vocals on four tracks. These spectral voices add a new dimension to the album’s sonic landscape, enhancing its mystical atmosphere. The sung elements blend seamlessly with the instrumental passages, creating moments of otherworldly beauty that punctuate the album’s dreamlike journey.

The production throughout is impeccable, with each instrument given room to breathe in the mix. Kujat’s primary instrument, the synthesizer, is used with a deft touch, creating textures that feel organic despite their electronic origins.

At 16 tracks and nearly an hour long, “Teapoy” offers a rich and immersive listening experience. The album’s length allows Kujat to fully explore his musical ideas, creating a journey that rewards patient and attentive listeners.

“Teapoy” defies easy categorization, which is its greatest strength. It seamlessly blends elements of ambient, world music, jazz, and even hints of pop into a cohesive whole that is uniquely The Phantom String. For listeners willing to surrender to its peculiar charms, “Teapoy” offers a richly rewarding experience.

In crafting this album, Kujat has created a work that invites active engagement. It’s music that encourages contemplation, each listen revealing new layers of detail and emotion. “Teapoy” stands as a testament to Kujat’s artistic vision and his ability to create a fully realized sonic world.

As “Ornament V: Spiral” brings the album to a close, listeners are left with the sense of having experienced something truly special. “Teapoy” is an album that lingers in the mind long after it’s over, its melodies and moods seeping into the subconscious like a half-remembered dream. It’s a bold statement from an artist fully committed to his unique musical vision, wherever it may lead.