Quicksilver Night – “Ptichka” | Progressive Rock Central.com

Wow! I love finding new bands on the Internet. That part of the new music industry is exciting. Quicksilver Night is another project of guitarist and composer, Warren Russell, along with an ever, “widening global circle of musical collaborators”. Quicksilver Night’s latest EP, Ptichka, was released on September 9th, of 2023.

Quicksilver Night is made up of Warren Russell, who plays all instruments and does the programming. Joining Warren Russel on Ptichka, (translated: “little bird”), is Northern Russian singer Dikajee. The music they have recorded is best described by their promotional press as “progressive-influenced rock music with operatic and madrigal nuances, set on fire by pyrotechnic solo contributions from special guest guitarists”. The single, “Ptichka” “was first announced in December 2021 as a collaborative single with nearly eight minutes of length”. It was “intended to initially release, digital-only and later include on Quicksilver Night’s next full-length album”. But then “the invasion of Ukraine by Russian-led forces in February 2022 and the ensuing sociopolitical and economic upheavals threw a huge figurative spanner into the works”.

Ptichka, opens with the song, “Monochrome Memories”, featuring Marco Iacobini, an Italian guitarist, playing jazzy guitar, with well-tailored bass and drums. The song is an over 3 jazzy, progressive rock and roller. Dikajee sings, “Lies … as they burn, ringing in my ears, now return, stinging, all those years followed you, standing at my door. Now I have nothing to believe, and I’m through listening anymore”. A sad break-up song, in which Dikajee discusses all the wrongs her lover has perpetrated against her.

“Ptichka”, features Russian, guitarist, bassist, and keyboardist, Andrew Negustorov. He performs well, along with Dikajee’s singing. There is a neat storyline behind this, the title track on the EP. “According to the Bantu, (the indigenous group of people in Africa), from the very beginning, it was assumed that Man would be immortal. This was to be told to him by the chameleon, whom God sent to earth. Then, after mature reflection, God changed his point of view and ordered the second messenger, this time a bird, to tell Man that, they say, nothing of the sort, Man is mortal. The chameleon was far ahead of the bird. Alas, he stuttered so badly that he didn’t relay his message to the person. The bird did not have such difficulties, and people learned that they are mortal and will never return back to earth in the form borrowed from their previous life.” The idea for this story came from a passage in the book, “Thanatonautes”, written by Bernard Werber, So, Dikajee, sings about this story, along with piano, drums, keyboards and powerful guitar, She sings, “Not the moon drawing on me with a piece of chalk. Nor a bird on the branch waiting for a Spring. Not the mocker nor the mocked. Or an elvish song in MP3. Nothing, nothing”. An over 7-minute song, full of emotion.

“Nihil Tactum”, is the next track. It is translated, (Nothing should be feared), and features Andrew Negustorov on guitars, bass, and keyboards. Dikajee sings, “Born of forgotten dreams, drawn from divinity. Your eyes reflect God’s schemes, a subtle blasphemy. Thrown into sharp relief, unheard of ecstasy, yet I am in despair of truly reaching you. And live again what might have been. Deafened by a choir of demons, Quicksilver moonlight plays, soft dance upon your skin”. A mesmerizing track that tells a difficult story.

4. “For You”, features Farzad Golpayegani, on 7-string electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, and violin. It has a little of that Led Zeppelin “Kashmir” mystery to it. Dikajee sings, “Everything is temporary; all that you are or ever were. Even the very skies above and seas below – will someday come to an end. You are here now, though, as are they. The skies shine and the seas sing to you now, if only you can resolve yourself to live in this moment instead of wasting your life bemoaning its temporality”. A great message, to appreciate what we have daily. I love that counsel. Dikajee continues singing, to well-played piano and percussion; “Raise the tearful eyes of yours and look. The sky is blue. The sky is doomed, but today it shines for you. Someday the fungi will eat you to the forest, but today; you eat the mushroom. The sea is blue”. The song could also be construed as a warning of global climate change, as well. Over 6 minutes of thoroughly engaging music and lyrics. Best song on the album, for me.

The closing song is “Latibulate”. It is translated, (To hide oneself in a corner). The song features Andrew Negustorov on guitars, bass, and keyboards. It is one of the best songs on the EP. The melody is perfect and thoroughly memorable. It is a sad song, dealing with some tragic ghosts and memories, from one of the worst eras of recent history. Dikajee explains; “In the song “Latibulate”, I quote Etty Hillesum, from her text, An Interrupted Life the Diaries, from 1941-1943; and Letters from Westerbork. She continues, “For the first time, Etty Hillesum’s diary and letters appear together to give us the fullest possible portrait of this extraordinary woman in the midst of World War II. In the darkest years of Nazi occupation and genocide, Etty Hillesum remained a celebrant of life whose lucid intelligence, sympathy, and almost impossible gallantry were themselves a form of inner resistance. She was the adult counterpart to Anne Frank”. In the video, for the song, Dikajee says, “I’m trying to show in the “Latibulate” video – it’s minimalistic and calm even in the most dramatic moments). For me it’s about finding the peace inside as something to start with in times of when you’re losing the ground under your feet. We must forget words like God, Death, Suffering, Eternity. You have to become as simple and as mute as the growing wheat or the falling rain. You have to be content with being.” Enough said. The music on this wonderful work of art rises to meet the difficult subject concerned, and cares for it warmly.

This EP, is nearly thirty minutes of original and stunning music, concerning deep, and emotional subjects. Ptichka is a wonderful introduction to the music of Warren Russell, and the guest guitarists and musicians he welcomed to the stage for this EP. I am interested in searching out more in the future. The EP is also a fantastic introduction to Dikajee’s singing. It was so refreshing to hear a woman sing in her natural tone, without having to scream or raise her voice at all. Her natural delivery was perfect, showing all, that it is not necessary to yell, to get your point across. I want to hear more of her singing in the future. I hope they will continue on to make the full LP, to do all this wonderful music justice. As it is now, the EP is full of deep, interesting stories that would benefit from a full album of coverage. I look forward to whatever they will do in the future. Pick up this album and add another great song-writing and playing duo to you record collection.

Track List:

1. “Monochrome Memories” featuring Marco Iacobini – 3:31

2. “Ptichka” featuring Andrew N Project – 7:51

3. “Nihil Tactum” featuring Andrew N Project – 4:15

4. “For You” featuring Farzad Golpayegani – 6:51

5. “Latibulate” featuring Andrew N Project – 4:39

Recorded at various studios around the globe. The mixing was completed by Alex O’Loughlin and Warren Russell at Sandcastle Records in Nashville, TN. The mastering was completed by Cefe Flynn Mastering in Sydney, NSW, Australia. The EP was produced by Alex O’Loughlin and Warren C Russell ©&℗ 2023 by Quicksilver Night Productions, all rights reserved.

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