FREE REIN Two Leaves Live

(high VBR, album, Free Ruin, 2009)

This one includes two long tracks recorded live and starts with a flute that really sounds like a shakuachi (and maybe it is, I don't know). We can hear here something of ethnic-kraut cult act Kalacakra, Popol Vuh, etc. It's very religious, based on tradition but, on the other hand, it's modern. This one is quite more ethnic than the other posted here, uniting in sound East and West.
Sometimes, sounds like early Tangerine Dream but with acoustic instruments.

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FREE REIN Moon Signs Sigh

(192 kbps, album, Free Ruin, 2009)

This a live recording of something that some would label under "free folk" or "experimental folk". Experimental it is and seems to be somewhat improvised. But has also a perfectly discernible folk feeling and roots. I might say that I enjoy very much this album, the way the music progresses, with some minimalistic touches, with an avantgarde feeling too.

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JORGE REYES Tonami

(192 kbps, album, No-CD, 1995)

Jorge Reyes passed away last year, an artist who tried to recreate the magic of mexican pre-hispanic music. Highly Recommended!

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ORCHESTRA NOIR Affordable Holmes

(high VBR, mini-album, Extremocidente, 2007)

Tony Wakeford is one of those musicians that is always growing, not repeating himself and if a proof is needed, here it is. Inspired by "guess who"it's different from L'Orchestre Noir, but very enjoyable to listen to in cold winters.

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BREATHE STONE Hex Thistle

(192 kbps, album, September Gurls Rec., 2003)

Review from Psych van Het Folk:

Wow ! Another project from Timothy Renner (Mourning Cloak, Stone Breath, Spectral Light & Moonshine Firefly Snakeoil Jamboree). "Breath Stone" is none other than another aspect from Stone Breath, with more textured soundscapes, with some electrified effects, very much creating a magical mood with a feel for nature, like cold wind and mist surrounding a fire with warm voices and instrumentation. Most parts of the album are songs, which come close to the Stone Breath and the M.F.S.Jamboree style, only with more textured sounds, from loop like electric guitars, and beautiful instrumental background sounds and arrangements, more multi dimensional. Magical !

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OZYMANDIAS & ELIJAH'S MANTLE The Soul of Romanticism

(192 kbps, album, De Nova da Capo, 1999)

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ALLERSEELEN Autdaruta

(256 kbps, album, Arany Kor, 1989)

This is primitive, but still fantastic. Allerseelen was a lot more experimental those days and I still love this early album.

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The Joy of Nature Presents: Agkaanta Asrti Parasamgate

(192 kbps, album, self-released, 2008)

This is a sort of compilation, mixing unreleased with compilation tracks and some material from side projects. Review excerpt from Heathen Harvest:

«All in all, the record is almost shocking in its variety, yet at the same time manages to keep a unifying line of compositions. Perhaps it’s the foggy, grey splendor of each image, or the decadent, brittle sceneries the music beckons. If there were a parallel world of living nature in a planet like ours, for sure it would move in shades of silver and teal and sound like this.»

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KARNNOS Dun Scaith

(192 kbps, album, Cynfeirdd, 2002)

And now two albums from two of my favourite Portuguese "dark" folk bands.
First, Dun Scaith by Karnnos. Here's a part of the review made by the now extinct Fluxeuropa:

«Karnnos reaches back far before the inspiration of Nineteenth Century Gothic to the dawn of Celtic paganism. Other practitioners of dark music have flirted with this tradition, but none have done so as enthusiastically or as effectively as Johnann Aernus. This is a world very different from the sanitised Celticism of New Age romantics. This is the world of the Morrigan, the Washer at the Ford laundering the bloody clothes of a warrior about to die in battle, or, in Nordic mythology, the Valkyries working their grizzly loom weighted with severed heads. It's difficult to find parallels, but if you wanted to find one in the art world it might be with Expressionism and particularly the work of Emil Nolde.»

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IN GOWAN RING Exists and Entrances, Volume Two

(192 kbps, album, self-released, 2002)

On 2002 and 2003 In Gowan Ring self-released 4 albums of rarities that later were compiled and reduced to an edition on CD by Ahnstern.
Rarities may sound as something inferior. But this is not the case. WOrth checking out.

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ALLERSEELEN Sturmlieder

(192 kbps, album, Aorta, 1997)

Of the 90s Allerseelen albums, this is probably the best. Powerful and dreamlike.

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MICHAEL CASHMORE Sleep England

(192 kbps, album, Durtro/Jnana Records, 2006)

Exerpt review from Compulsion Online:

«Sleep England is his first album under his own name, a name that will be familiar to followers of Current 93. For the past 15 years Michael Cashmore has imbued the work of Current 93 with majestic chords and pastoral shades. His musical contributions have lent a warm melancholy to David Tibet's armageddon outpourings. Sleep England takes these as its starting point with his beautiful guitarwork left uncluttered, its brittle pluck and strum weaving intricate melodies issuing a steady stream of gently tumbling notes. Sometimes drawing them to the light, othertimes casting them to the dark or graciously seeking out melodies when called for. His deft playing is bold but light with gentle swaying chords and with tremelo, echo and harmonious tones he adds colouring to the pastoral shades.

«Cashmore's guitar playing is easily identifiable but working within clearly defined parameters largely set by his choice of instrumentation his compositions have their roots in folk and medieaval musics. Having said that a number of these thirteen tracks feature sweet pop melodies, occassionally even straying into post-rock territory for a moment.

«Yet the sheer beauty of Sleep England is to be found in the hazy reverie created. It's a space for reflection, a place to catch sight of half-forgotten memories while Cashmore seeks out his elusive England. And when Michael Cashmore can produce music as staggering as this let's just hope his quest remains unfulfilled.»

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MOURNING CLOAK In Dreams You See

(224 kbps, album, Mindfield Records, 1996)

This is one of the first projects by Timothy Renner to gain some exposition, I think. No one was talking about psych folk when this came out. It's still a beautiful album.

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THE FLOATING WORLD Unda

(192 kbps, album, Barl Fire Recordings, 2005)

Review from Psychotropic Zone:

«This is the first full-length CD-R release by Amanda Votto from Canada under The Floating World moniker. She has been making music for ten years now, though. The main (and often sole) instrument on this album is flute that brings to mind Nik Turner playing his flute in the Great pyramid at Giza inspired by the ancient Egyptian gods. All of the album is very calm and airy and it demands the total concentration of the listener. In addition to the effected flute there are some quiet, apparently synthesised sounds and drones on the album. There might be some real nature sounds in there too, but it’s hard to be sure. There are six instrumental tracks of ethereal, mystical folk on the album, all of which are very spiritual. Votto cites for example night, seasons, fog, sky, void, flowers, sea etc. as influences, and you can really hear that from her music. If you’ve got the guts to listen to this on mushrooms in a dark forest, you will see God or even realize you are God! Great stuff from Barl Fire again, too bad that there are only 100 copies of this gem, so be quick.»

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IGOR WAKHEVITCH Docteur Faust

(224 kbps, album, EMI, 1971)

This album is really crazy! And shows a fantastic good humour. Quite surrealistic.


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.

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LIGHTS IN A FAT CITY Sound Column

(256 kbps, album, Extreme, 1993)

This one is more ambient than "Somewhere", but more mystic, but always avoiding New age territory. A personal favourite.

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DÉFILÉ DES ÂMES Lust 'n' Stone

(192 kbps, album, Ahnstern, 2008)

Review excerpt from Heathen Harvest:

«The first two tracks; “Doors To Undefeated Violence”, and “Carnal Desire” have a dreary –spacey sound to them. The second track includes some spoken word quoted from Anton LaVey. Lyrics by LaVey are always a plus to me! I like the third song “Mushrooms” a lot. It has the lines “The first mushroom said Eat Me / The second mushroom said I Am God”. It sounds all mysterious and pretty. Excellent use is made of the horn and clarinet on this track. Track seven “Liar..!” is the standout track on this album. It features Matt Howden of Sieben on violin. This track has an uncomfortable feel to it, like being trapped in a small space with someone you don’t like. Track eight “Eilem A Est Morte” is dedicated to the band Ataraxia. It is a slow and lilting waltz with mandolin and classical guitar. The last track “August” is my favorite on the album. It has an incredibly well played and beautiful violin part, apocalyptic vocals, and psychedelic guitars. A fitting climax to an all around great album.»

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BEST OF 2009: FAUST - C'est Com... Com... Compliqué

(high VBR, album, 2009)

This is the album I expected Faust to do since their return on the 90s. How does kraut rock sounds on the 21st century? Here's the answer.
One of the best Faust's albums.

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BEST OF 2009: THE JOY OF NATURE - The Empty Circle part II - Rastos de Sangue e Fragmentos da Tradição

(192 kbps, album, Ahnstern, 2009)

The second full length by The Joy of Nature is, without doubts better than the first: more focused, song-orientated and based on traditional folk. I wouldn't put this record under the neofolk tag, since it sounds unique. It's more folk music with a psychedelic and experimental touch. Sangre Cavallum sometimes comes to mind, but more experimental.
This is magical folk music and, while listening to it, I feel like I'm in the mountains or woods.

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BEST OF 2009: PIANO MAGIC - Ovations

(high VBR, album, Make Mine Music, 2009)

"Ovations" starts with Brendan Perry (from Dead Can Dance) singing "The Nightmare Goes On" and sets a bleaker mood than on previous Piano Magic's records. This album brings to the 21st century the classic "4AD sound" but goes further than that with some classical arrangements, like on "You Never Loved this City", also sang by Brendan Perry.
I don't listen to much "indie" music nowadays and I'm not (or wasn't) a Piano Magic fan, but this album got me hooked this Autumn and made me search Piano Magic's back catalogue.

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