Review
Moon Far Away’s Acou begins with austere choral arrangements and a stark, ritualistic pacing, firmly re-establishing the Arkhangelsk outfit's command of gothic folk. Critics note the record's patience, observing that instead of relying on "dramatic crescendos or catchy hooks," its architecture is built around "atmosphere and contemplation." The album’s multi-part vocal work and sparse instrumentation evoke the sensation of "entering a dimly lit sanctuary, in which ancient echoes hang in the air".
However, consensus diverges when evaluating the record's structural cohesion. While writers admire the initial "combination of Russian heaviness and early-summer lightness," some find that the later tracks succumb to a drift, rendering the second half "sketchy and unfinished". Still, for those drawn to its hybrid format, Acou succeeds as a transportive listen that swings between "dreamy-melancholic material" and "highly demanding dark sounds," offering an evocative marriage of ancient ritual and delicate acoustic progressions.
