Reviews: folk

Spiritual Front is the band around the flamboyant singer Simone Salvatori, whose music is sometimes described as ‘suicide pop’. Before the last album “Satyriasis”, Spiritual Front has released some limited vinyl singles, like this 5-track 10″.

The friendly priced Edelweiss is probably intended as an introduction to those who do not know the work of Allerseelen well. It gathers 16 ‘industrial folklore’ tracks recorded in the past five years. But also faithful Allerseelen fans might be tempted to obtain this cd.

The name of Joolie Wood will perhaps mostly ring a bell to people who followed David Tibet’s Current 93 a bit. Wood,also contributed her services to various other artists. Now she is working on a solo career, of which this EP is the first tangible result.

The spectral, rural sounds of banjo, dulcimer, harmonium, and acoustic guitar, that are the heartbeat of the music feel more timeless than avant-garde. However, these instruments are combined with decidedly experimental elements.

Two members of the Heimdallr webzine crew started the label Autre Que. After a single by Ô Paradis, they now released a compilation with some interesting names from the dark folk scene.

This debut album by Seelenthron sounds familiar upon first listening. Which is not so strange, since this German project has two former members of Dies Natalis.

After the debut album Unsere Feuer brennen I was curious what direction Werkraum would head for. Well, the project around Axel Frank has surprised me in a positive manner with more traditional folk sound.

Vequinox is a duo from the USA. There are folk elements on their debut album, but also hints of medieval, world, darkwave and other styles.

Since many years Orplid is a steady force in the neo-folk scene. The band has been evolving ever since their first release. This new album, Sterbender Satyr, is another step in their evolution.

This neo-classical / neo-folk band has already built a name for themselves. Where do broken hearts go? is their debut on Cold Meat Industry.

A self-released cd-r by a one-man project from Sint-Petersburg. It contains 40 minutes of neo-folkish music.

Songs of Illness and Bad Luck by the outfit Barrel Harbor falls undeniably under the moniker of Americana. However, one will be hard-pressed to find any dreamy-eyed patriotic sentimentalism here.

Corde Oblique is the new project by the guitar player of Lupercalia. He is assisted by other musicians, like from the bands Argine and Ashram. In a fresh way this record combines a sort of gypsy folk sound with ethereal elements.

Is it folk? That is one thing you might ask yourself after listening to this record. Tenhi plays progressive rock with folk influences.

You never know what to expect from Wermut. The duo Laszlo and Sofia do what they want, and when they want. Thus Anna is very different from their Hoffnung 10”.

For the second time Eis & Licht has compiled an album which gives a representative overview of their productions. The cd in an elegant ‘digifile’ contains 14 bands active in the field of ‘dark pop and folk’.

It’s a special story: a folk singer who released only one album in the late 60’s, discovers that almost thirty years later people are still interested in her record, which she thought was completely forgotten. This did not only lead to a reissue of ‘Just Another Diamond Day’ in 2004, but also encouraged Vashti Bunyan to start recording again.

The Dutch guys of Volksweerbaarheid came only selectively into the open in the couple of years they now exist. After a live cd-r, a 10″ record on Hau Ruck! and sporadic live performances, they now return with a 7″ single.

After teasing the audience with a single (Hail hail hail) and a reissue (Midnight Will), Of The Wand and the Moon is back with a long awaited fourth album.