WOLFSKIN: O Ajuntar das Sombras

(high VBR, album, Malignant Records, 2008)

Review excerpt from Heathen Harvest:

«The album lets you in gently with the airy, atmospheric drones of "The Body of Chaos" and "The Wild Hunt" before the whispered incantations begin on "Cart of Light". Wolfskin occasionally incorporate percussive sections, which, rather than giving the album a tribal or industrial flavour, are done with enough subtlety as to fit perfectly with the ritualistic theme, even mimicking some of the more sinister moments of The Moon Lay Hidden Beneath a Cloud. The album then takes a break from its ritualistic side, moving back into dark ambient territory with the background wails and airy rushes of the excellent "Rex Sacrorum" before the incantation proper begins once more. There are many times when "O Ajuntar das Sombras" feels like a perfect fusion of the some of the more minimal and disturbing dark ambient ensembles such as Blood Box and Troum but without any of the prolix self-indulgence.»

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IGOR WAKHÉVITCH Nagual (Les Ailes De La Perception)

(224 kbps, album, EMI, 1977)

Info from the label that reissued his works:

Igor Wakhevitch was an obscure French composer who apparently took pleasure in messing with peoples’ heads. He had studied with terry Riley, Olivier Messiaen and famed stage director Pierre Schaeffer, as well as having ties with the Soft Machine and Salvador Dali. He made six studio albums in the 70s, which might best be described as encapsulated chemical enhancements. I have no idea what kind of shit he was on, though I would say that his very odd mastery of noise, experimental classical and synthesizer technology was none too compromised by his mental state.

Not as accessible as "Let's Start" but still with a childlike feeling from time to time. Esoteric music. Or should I say alchemical music?

This was reissued, but on a box containing more 4 CDs by Fractal Records.

LIGHTS IN A FAT CITY Somewhere

(256 kbps, album, City of Tribes Records, 1992)

It's the first time that an album of world music is posted here. This is one of the best albums with didgeridoo that I ever heard. Lights in a Fat City were quite creative and experimental, not owing anything to new age (fortunately!)

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PAINTING PETALS ON PLANET GHOST Painting Petals On Planet Ghost

(192 kbps, album, Time-Lag Records, 2007)

Review excerpt from Foxy Digitalis:

«Developing a more acoustic-based and “quiet” form of trance music, the soundworld of Painting Petals On Planet Ghost still maintains some strong connections with the one that has been perfected over the past few years by the Opalio brothers. It is a different brand of cosmic meditation, for sure, but it follows a parallel route from the one usually trodden by My Cat Is An Alien.

«Still, one should keep in mind that listening to Painting Petals On Planet Ghost remains a totally unique experience – its level of intimacy and otherworldliness having been reached by very few other artists… on the planet, that is!»

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ROBERT HAIGH Written On Water

(high VBR, album, Crouton, 2008)

Excerpt from Brainwashed's review:

«Nurse With Wound's contributing pianist (Sylvie and Babs, Spiral Insana, A Sucked Orange, and a number of compilation and odd tracks) gave up recording as Sema by the late 1980s and continued on through the '90s under different guises and aliases to suit quite a different style of music he pursued. This is the first release in nearly 20 years under his own name and finds a return to the quiet and introspective simplicity that fans of the quiet piano era will easily adore.»


In my opinion, if you like quiet piano music, Satie, minimalism, etc., this album is for you. I enjoy it a lot!
It seems that the label that issued this album is closed. It's worrying how labels are closing...

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TEHOM Theriomorphic Spirits

(192 kbps, album, Twilight Command/NER, 2000)

Siniša Ocuršcak, the man behind TeHôM, died shortly after completing his second album, Theriomorphic Spirits. Speculation as to the cause of the death generally assumes that it was almost certainly the result of a war-related illness.
This album was released by Douglas P's own label.
If you're looking for real dark ambient, but dislike the clichés of the genre, then this album is for you.

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IN GOWAN RING/MARTYN BATES Split

(224 kbps, mini-album, Shayo, 2005)

This CDr was available at concerts of Martyn Bates and In Gowan Ring in 2006.
Limited to 150 hand-numbered copies.
Even though I ddon't dislike Martyn Bates's tracks, the two from In Gowan Ring really shine!

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Martyn Bates's myspace

In Gowan Ring's myspace

THE JOY OF NATURE The Empty Circle Part I: Swirling Lands of Disquiet and Catharsis

(high VBR, album, Ahnstern, 2008)

From Heathen Harvest's review:

«In my opinion one of the best releases coming out this year, an impressive musical opus, transcending the whole senses with its penetrating, experimental compositions full of feelings and interesting atmospheres from start to finish. This Portuguese act called The Joy Of Nature is a multimedia project created in 1999 as The Joy Of Nature And Discipline and reduced to The Joy Of Nature in 2006. Following a change in its sound. Being today focused into organic and acoustic sounds. The Joy Of Nature works as a project focused into a trilogy concept albums which “the empty circle part I: swirling lands of disquiet and catharsis” is the first part of the trilogy and has connections with three main hermetic alchemical phases, in this case Nigredo.»

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V/A Mysteria Mithrae

(192 kbps, album, Athanor, 1996)

There are a lot thematic compilations on what many call the dark folk/neofolk genre(s). But most compilations just gather a bunch of songs from different artists, loosely gathered under some topic.
This is what a thematic compilation should be. The Blood Axis tracks and the Ernte one are fantastic.

Tracklist:
1. Philippe Laurent & Les Joyaux De La Princesse Lumière Bleue
2. Blood Axis Bearer of 10,000 Eyes / Lord of Ages
3. Endvra The Sun Behind the Sun
4. Endvra The Bull and the East Wind Blowing
5. Ernte Stolze Herzen
6. Allerseelen Bluttaufe
7. Scivias Et Nos Servasti Eternali Sanguine Fuso
8. Lonsai Maïkov Blood of the Sun
9. Dissonant Elephant The Only Crown

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JAHRTAL Lichtbuch

(192 kbps, album, Ahnstern, 2007)

This album presents quiet and beautiful folk. While listening to this album, I imagine myself in the woods, in magical woods. Jahrtal's music is quite psychedelic, at times. One of the best records to listen in Autumn!

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IGOR WAKHEVITCH Let's Start

(224 kbps, album, EMI, 1979)

Info from the label that reissued his works:

Igor Wakhevitch was an obscure French composer who apparently took pleasure in messing with peoples’ heads. He had studied with terry Riley, Olivier Messiaen and famed stage director Pierre Schaeffer, as well as having ties with the Soft Machine and Salvador Dali. He made six studio albums in the 70s, which might best be described as encapsulated chemical enhancements. I have no idea what kind of shit he was on, though I would say that his very odd mastery of noise, experimental classical and synthesizer technology was none too compromised by his mental state.

Michael Gira loves the works of Wakhevitch. So do I.
This is the more accessible of Wakhevitch's works on CD. And still it does not contain easy material.

I would say that this is really psychedelic music. Completely original - there's nothing sound like it. Sometimes, there's a childhood feeling to this album.
Highly recommended!
This was reissued, but on a box containing more 4 CDs by Fractal Records.

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MICHAEL CASHMORE The Snow Abides

(192 kbps, EP, Durtro, 2007)

As always, Michael Cashmore makes magic here. Accompanied by Antony on three songs. These are the tracks in which I most love Antony's performances. Classical arrangements. As strong as "Beauty Reaps The Blood of Solitude"

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BLAINE L. REININGER/STEVEN BROWN Flower Songs

(192 kbps, album, Independent Recordings, 2006)

This was issued only on 2006 but was recorded in Mexico on 1993. And what a performance! This is very different from "1890-1990", but it's brilliant!

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this one is soldout, according to the label

BACKWORLD Anthems from the Pleasure Park

(high VBR, album, Harbinger House, 1999)

Since I'm not very inspired to write music I was searching for a review of this album. But, as I didn't find any, OK, I'll write down some words about it.
This album was distributed by the legendary World Serpent and has some well-known guests, like Jarboe, Michael Moynihan or Annabel Lee. But I would say that it should better be known for its songs and beautiful arrangements. The song "The Devil's Plaything" s a personal favourite. Really Recommended!

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SHARRON KRAUS The Fox's Wedding

(192 kbps, album, Durtro/Jnana, 2008)

From Foxy Digitalis's review:

«Dear Sharron,

«I'm writing these lines just to let you know that your album has made my life so much better. I don't usually mean it as a compliment when I say that music is "lovely?" but "The Fox's Wedding" is just that, and still I?m utterly, utterly enthralled by it. Not being a native speaker, I realize it's difficult to really appreciate the telling tales of enslavement, perversion, incest, obsession, love and death? that the Durtro / Southern press department is talking about, but after what felt like the 25th replay of "Green Man" I couldn?t help but notice that this song is about a painful marriage, but within a context that demands painful sacrifices from the female part. "I am pregnant but not with child", the woman sings. This might be the Ophelia in this painting I once saw in London. Or is it you? Inside me is a forest", the voice continues, "A surging world opens up to me". Everything here hints at 19th century morals and values, as do the sepia'd photos of you in the album booklet. For that's you in that black dress standing under a withered archway, isn?t it? You look trapped, but there are plants up to your hips, which means that you could just fly away. And then there are the instruments you play or have other people play in these twelve songs. Have I already mentioned that even more than your banjo or your acoustic guitar I'm totally floored by the recorder of "The Green Man"?»

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NOVEMTHREE/ARROWWOOD Untitled

(192 kbps, 2 mini-albums, Little Somebody Records, 2007)

From Heathen Harvest's review:

«Tender and mournful, the guitar’s minor arpeggio’s slowly undulate with the open dirgeful maw of drawn strings and sombre flute, husky and etherious vocal harmony glaze a forested dream. Novemthree is the handmaiden of Pythagmus, with two additional presences adding male and female voice and piano, and it is an oneiric forest, adrift in limbo, cast in fog and sluggish somnolence. This affection is steeped in folk, lamenting ancient byways into the eld woods. The six tracks vacillate ever so slightly in melody but keep the consensus of the outpouring of hushed paganism.

«Arrowwood, the second disc in this release offer a similar dolorous mien, but perform it in tremulous and shimmering glitter. Here the moss-encrusted guitar is bequeathed to the husky and feminine grace of Chelsea (accompanied the aforementioned Pythagmus with singing bowl and woodwind). It is a dichotomy of unison, that these two artists should come so close yet be opposed in the digipak on separate discs. Providing more song-form with lyrical content, Arrowwood are the folk equivalent of Lycia, but more poignant.»

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WALDTEUFEL Sanguis

(256 kbps, album, Beta-lactam Ring Records, 2007)

Powerful folk drums and distorted electric guitars, metal-sounding. Mysterious drone-based songs. Folk songs, very unique. Probably their best work to date. Highly Recommended!

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NEITHER/NEITHER WORLD Rewound

(192 kbps, album, Shayo, 2004)

From Devotion Magazine:

Present on the San Francisco independent scene for ten years or so, Neither Neither World mainly appeals to the fans of dark-folk. Adept of Anton LaVey, fascinated by serial killers (from Henry Lee Lucas to Charles Manson and the Marquis of Sade), the band likes to see their music classified under the "satanic-folk" label. This sulphurous universe is in contrast with the sweet voice of Wendy Van Dusen which reminds Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star). The Neither Neither World's dainty melodies (with a guitar and sometimes a bit of piano) also strongly remind of the acoustic ambiences of Current 93 or Death in June, and it's not accidental that the band released two albums with World Serpent before. "Rewound" is precisely a selection of tracks taken from the last records of the group which are now sold out ("Alive With the Taste of Hell" and "Suicide Notes"), and it also contains covers like Psychocandy of the Jesus & Mary chain, All I Ever Wanted of Bauhaus or No New Tale to Tell of Love & Rockets. If you like ethereal folk atmospheres, this re-issue is the chance for you to discover this band who doesn't innovate much, but nicely devotes itself to the best of this genre.

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JOY OF LIFE Enjoy/Hear The Children

(192 kbps, album, Hyperium, 1992)

In 1992 Hyperium gathered in one CD the two mid 80's releases by Joy of Life. The first one - Enjoy - was released by Douglas P's label NER. One of the elements of Joy of Life - Gary Carey - collaborated o some Death In June's tracks.
But this albums stands on his own. It's kind of mechanical post-punk full of spirit. Very good lyrics too. Some songs are as good as some Joy Division classics. They played live on WGT last year

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NATURE AND ORGANISATION: Death in a Snow Leopard Winter

(192 kbps, album, Snow Leopard Records, 1998)

According to Michael Cashmore on the liner notes: «I had to abandon work on this album for various personal reasons, but I decided to release it, incomplete as it is, in the hope that it may still be of interest to at least some people as a documentation of a work that was in progress. My sincere apologies for this, it was not meant to be so. The basic instrumentation missing from these recordings includes oboe, flute, bassoon, timpani and also vocal sections.»

This album features Michael Cashmore on piano and a string quartet. It stands very well on its own, incomplete as it is. Instead of folk, we have here something close to classical music. Sensitive and beautiful.

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