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Discrete Encounter - 2B1 - Stay - @ Snitch, NYC 2007 HD
Discrete Encounter 2B1 CD

By Rikki O.

Natasha Romanova - vocals
Taras Mashtalir - vocals, guitar
Stas Mashov - live visual projection

www.discreteencounter.com
www.myspace.com/discreteencounter

Discrete Encounters 2B1 is a ride straight into the future of electronic music, complete with trippy visuals, sonic cross-dressing, and a categorical rebellion from the status quo. Formed by the classically trained Natasha Romanova and Taras Mashtalir, and rounded out with visual artist Stas Mashov and live sound designer DJ Plexus, Discrete Encounter replenishes a somewhat played out dance scene with a fresh hybrid sound. Intermingling rock, dance and electronic experimentation, 2B1 explores the unification of opposites from individual components that become greater when mixed together with a hot beat.

Fans of early Nine Inch Nails, Lamb, Autechre and Skinny Puppy will all find something delicious on this album, as 2B1 takes all those sounds to their logical progression into the 21st century. Based in NYC, their live shows beset their audience with heart pounding industrial beats and rock and roll poetry-licks along with a visual art interpretation, effectively dropping a sensory bomb in the middle of the space for everyone to go crazy in. Natashas sensual and smoldering voice softens the jagged edges; drawing you in to the experience like you are the only one in the room, or perhaps that everyone in the room combine somehow to create only you. Taras guitar is well controlled chaos; on occasional tracks like Let Go, he lends his deep, husky vocals to contrast Natashas beautiful, feminine sound with sexy alchemical results.

Stand out tracks include Pleasure and Pain, Distant Star and If Only. This CD is necessary equipment for any given Saturday night around 2am.

This article was written by Rikki O.
Related website(s): www.discreteencounter.com


Discrete Encounter - 2B1 - CD
(Discrete Encounter) Sometimes you can tell a lot about a band by looking at the CD cover and reading the names of the band members. It isn't just that the three members look like they are headed to a late 80s retro party, once you read their names you get a real sense of the band. Discrete Encounter features Taras Mashtalir (Music, Guitar, Vocals), Natasha (Lyrics, Vocals) and Stas Mashov (Visual Projection). So, if you haven't guessed I will tell you yes it is 80s based electronica. The one thing that surprised me was Natasha's voice, which for quite a while I thought was a guy singing.until a deep male voice joined in on one of my favorite tracks "Let Go". I really think Natasha sounds a lot like the singer from Space, accent and all. I did like most of their songs even though the first few tracks really never clicked for me. But starting with "Let Go" and running throughout the rest of the tracks I was impressed by the rhythms, beats and vocals. I even liked the over the top rock guitar solos that seemed to come out of nowhere. Discrete Encounter is an interesting band for anybody and a must if you're into electronica.
-- Grog Mutant (2008)