Reviews: medieval

Earlier they already released a demo cdr, but this mini cd with four tracks is the first regular release of Aardia. The title and the artwork directly lead you to a fantasy/medieval direction. The first track ‘The Summoner’ opens with sounds that remind you of activities at a medieval court. I have to think of the American medieval project The Soil Bleeds Black…

AU is a Swedish band that has created a sound that moves somewhere between tradition and modernity. After several years of experimenting and performing live as Ars Ultima the band settled with its very original sound of traditional (influenced)tunes and contemporary music forms. Alchímía is a collection of both new songs and adapted songs from the Ars Ultima project…

B.A.R.K is a relatively new folk act from Sweden. Their music fits in nicely with other modern folk acts from Scandinavian, like Garmarna and Sorten Muld. Like them B.A.R.K mixes electronic (dance) music with traditional Scandinavian folk tunes. As said other acts have done this before but B.A.R.K have definitely found a place and a sound of their own among these acts…

Back in 1989 Estampie recorded their first cd. Now they just have released their seventh one, entitled “Fin Amor”, a masterpiece with 13 songs. Again they have created a typical medieval album, on which many authentic instruments are used, like lyre, harp and flute.On the album some instrumental tracks can be found as well as songs with vocals…

Frigga’s Web is the third full-length album of Hagalaz Runedance, which again manages to convince with its ritual, spiritual folk music…

Six long compositions can be found on this new album from Ataraxia. This Italian band is working on an impressive oeuvre, if I’ve counted well this is already their tenth album. Just like the previous three albums, it is released by Cruel Moon, a side-label of the Swedish Cold Meat. As always Ataraxia finds its inspiration in a mixture of medieval, oriental and European themes and sounds…

From the French label Cynfeirdd comes this small compilation. It is a limited edition of 555 copies, in a cartonbox. It was supposed to come with issue 15 of the Cynfeirdd fanzine, but I only obtained the cd. It features seven artists, each with a more or less exclusive contribution. A few names were completely unknown to me…

It took me some years to appreciate the medieval music of Ataraxia. Especially the strong voice of singer Francesca Nicoli was something I had to get used to. Nowadays I like Ataraxia more and more, especially after I’ve seen them live a few times. This new album Suenos is in my opinion their best so far…

Mastermind behind the band is Eric Roger, who plays the trumpet on various release by Tony Wakeford and co. The bandname by the way is derived from Celtic mythology, hero Cuchulain owned the legendary spear “Gae Bolg” and “Fand” was one of his lovers. The album is issued by the small French label Cynfeirdd, the lyrics are also in French…

In a nice green digipack with a beautiful booklet comes the new cd from the French band around Patrick Laforque and Patrice Roques. They play a large number of different stringed instruments, wind-instruments and percussions…

A 12″ in a limited edition of 333 hand numbered copies with luxurious (naughty) insert, on the french label Cynfeirdd. First part of a split vinyl trilogy shared between Omne Datum Optimum, Gaë Bolg and the Church of Fand and Nothvs Filivs Mortis. The first two bands are present on this record, each with two songs…

The new LP from this French band is a picture disc with humorous drawings, originally limited to 77 copies for subscribers only, later expanded with 296 copies. Tintagel was a famous castle in the Middle Ages, now only a ruin, in Cornwall, where King Arthur lived according to the legend…

Two Italian bands can be found on this 10″ released by Eis & Licht, both with two tracks. The record comes with a really wonderful insert sheet. On side A, the well-known medieval formation Camerata Mediolanense brings us a 10 minute long version of L’Homme Armé, one of the best songs on their repertoire…