Unconventional forms of music are hard to deal with sometimes, because the ones who listen to some artists lose the sense of what's being played, and what the band in question is about with their music. It's not easy do define things sometimes, so the best to be done is to listen, have the experience and say 'I like it it' or 'I don't like it' (no need to say 'I hate it', because that aren't too many occasions in life to hate some form of music). And it's the best way to deal with "Nova", the latest album of SYLVAINE.

Kathrine Shepard (her true name) offers to the fans s form of music that combines elements of Folk Rock, Shoegaze, Black Gaze, Gothic Doom, and many others tendencies and genres that one can find something that is familiar. But the main appeal is melodic and even melodramatic, exposing feelings as anger, loss, traumas, but hope and other positive feelings as well. And although the words above can depict something complex, in reality the album is easy to hear, absorb and like. It's lysergic and melodically seductive, a musical experience that deserves to be tasted completely.

The album was recorded at Drudenhaus Studio, Issé (FR), with Benoit Roux taking care of the production and mixing (and did the sound engineering as well). The mastering is a work done by the hands of Karl Daniel Lidén at Karl Daniel Lidén Productions. All to give the album a clean and defined appeal, but with the presence of some crude and organic sense (during the guitar parts on "Fortapt" such aspect becomes clear), so be prepared for the unexpected shifts sometimes. And as guests, Lambert Segura appears playing violins, and Patrick Urban play some cello parts (both musicians appear on "Everything Must Come to an End").

Once more: try to not be attached to hard musical conceptions and labels when dealing with "Nova". It's the best way to assimilate it. "Nova" works as a tender Folk introduction for the album, preparing the ears to the filthy and organic appeal of the instrumental parts of "Mono No Aware" (something that brings the idea of some Black Gaze elements are presented on the aggressive moments, and what good contrasts between shrieks and tender voices).

The melodramatic and melodic appeal of "Nowhere, Still Somewhere" seems to combine Shoe Gaze and Folk Rock, with a tender and weaving set of melodies. And the 11 minutes of "Fortapt" is filled with many different musical contrasts that goes from deep and melancholic ambiences with Folk Music appeal to Shoegaze distorted crude parts, but keeping the silk voices. "I Close My Eyes So I Can See" is deeper and introspective, filled with a calm and landscaping sound, even when the distorted guitar parts and screams rise. And such features appear again on "Everything Must Come to an End", a song plenty of beautiful and landscaping parts filled with cellos and violin moments, reminding a lot some moments of ENYA's works.

"Dissolution" is a bonus track that keeps the musical conception of "Nova" (bonus track), being deep and enigmatic with its melancholic outfit, even with the guitars, bass guitars and drums creating a solid instrumental sheath for the vocals. In the end of all, one must have in mind that to deal with "Nova" isn't an easy experience for Metalheads that prefers to hear only bands with energy and extreme approaches. But no one can deny that SYLVAINE gave to the fans something really very good to hear in these sad times we all are living (the pandemic and fear of a coming nuclear age), something that beautifully says that all these bad things will pass soon.