Dal

Korean group dal:um recently released their debut album titled Similar & Different. The music can be considered a bit jazzy, a bit experimental and bit blues - which is pretty standard for most jazz albums, however this album is different. The group is made up of Su-yean Ha on gayageum (silk string zither) and Hye-young Hwang on geomungo (fretted silk string zither), who push the boundaires of these traditional instruments in a modern way to create a truly unique and often otherworldly sound.

“Dal:um’s music comes from ‘emptiness’,” explains Hyeyoung. “We’ve been working to create a balance between the original sound of silk strings and the beauty of emptiness.” This creative path is very evident in the opening track Dasreum which is experimental and spacious. Many of the unfamiliar sounds are created using extended techniques on the traditional zither - which is one of Korea’s most popular instruments. This same thought process can be seen on tracks such as Shadow Play and The Waves.

The second track TAL has an amazing blues feel to it but the incredible resonance and depth of the zither adds a veil of mystery and intensity to the music. The same can be said for the tracks Trace and The Collapsing Time. The album very cleverly interchanges between the spacious free jazz of the opening track, to the striking jazz influence that can be heard on the track TAL.

Similar & Different sees the duo explore both the similarities and difference of these instruments. The group use their innovation to interpret the instruments in a new way to create harmony and energy, yet to also create silence and space. An incredibly unique album that is pushing the boundaries of contemporary jazz and traditional instrumentation at the same time.

LISTEN TO SIMILAR & DIFFERENT NOW ON QOBUZ