I regularly scour the internet in search of new music. When I ran across this disc, it floored me. Most experimental music on the net seems to me to be very simple, like it was written over the weekend on someone's cheap Casio keyboard, but this cd has an unmatched compositional quality. I liked the mp3 version, but when I bought the disc, I found that the cd art was killer and it sounded so much better than the mp3.

The Thicket is a studio-based duo formed in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 2001. The Band consist of "Andrei Poukhovski" and "Ivan Poukhovski-Sheremetyev". They are father and son, of Russian descent, separated by 25 years of age, but united by similar musical ideas and tastes. They both went through formal musical training. They enjoy playing together and they definitely don´t have a problem with peer pressure (although as father and son they like to compete with each other). But why the name The Thicket? The fact of the matter is that they tried to make it enigmatic, but also to reflect their dense, convulated forest of ideas. Despite the dark moods often present in the music, there is always a glimmer of light peering though the canopy of tension. A thicket is omnipresent in Russian folklore. The year 2003 is full of pleasant surprises, and The Thicket is one of them, an enigmatic name but with a perfect sound, bombastics musical arrangements, symphonic, progressive, everything developed in mature inspirations that comes from their hearts. The music from these two talented musicians is based around the influences that came from Progressive Rock, Classic Music, Neo-progressive, Metal, Electronic Rock and Folk, where all musical ideas are around lovely keyboards sounds, blending with rhythms created through the "theremin", when it´s necessary adding heavy vocals in some parts, no guitar or drums, for what? It's so perfect. I invite you to hear something amazing and different, and let the music to talk itself, you certainly will be surprised and will not be disappointed. If you are a fan of "Mike Oldfield", "Jean-Michel Jarre" and "Tangerine Dream" The Thicket is your best selection. The Thicket is the debut self titled CD, all songs written and composed by the duo Andrei and Ivan, including ten tracks with pure delight. A special and particular attention to and my favourite songs are: "Defiance", "Canopy", "Sunday" (a amazing song), "Kuskovo (Autumn)" (one of the best in best), "Snow", "Wide Open" and "Catharsis". The musicians on this project are: Andrei Poukhovski - Keyboards, Vocals and Theremin and Ivan Poukhovski-Sheremetyev - Keyboards and Vocals. "The theremin was invented in 1919 by a Russian physicist named Lev Termen (his name was later changed to Leon Theremin). Today, this marvelous instrument is once again in the musical spotlight. Besides looking like no other instrument, the theremin is unique in that it is played without being touched. Two antennas protrude from the theremin - one controlling pitch, and the other controlling volume. As a hand approaches the vertical antenna, the pitch gets higher. Approaching the horizontal antenna makes the volume softer. Because there is no physical contact with the instrument, playing the theremin requires precise skill and perfect pitch." Brilliant and indispensable work, highly recommendable...

The range and diversity of this album is incredible. A roller coaster ride of emotions. These gifted musician have created something really powerful here. Can they really be Father and Son?

Intrigued by the sound samples I heard on cdbaby, I went ahead and ordered it. I was more than impressed with the quality and scope of the music! This is an aural feast for the descriminating listener, full of wonderful Russian-tinged melodies, ever shifting electronic soundscapes, all underpinned by rhythms that are sometimes percolating, sometimes placid. There's even a dash of metal thrown in at times to keep things interesting. All in all, an entralling album of melancholic beauty. I've already ordered a second cd for a friend who I know will go nuts over it! Highly recommended to listeners who demand more than just sonic wallpaper from their electronic music.