With many thanks to Alan Freeman, the proprietor of England’s coolest prog-rock shop, Ultima Thule, and the editor of the magazine which poisoned my musical taste for the rest of my life, Audion.
This freakish track by Alcatraz managed to scramble the brains of Steven Stapleton of Nurse With Wound. If that isn’t high praise, nothing is.
A bit of schmaltz, courtesy of Herb Alpert and perhaps the most beautiful woman to ever grace a record cover ever, Dolores Erickson.
The best way to describe Árstíðir, at least in this gorgeous tune, is something like what a Varangian choir might have sounded like in 13th-Century Byzantium, singing in the Hagia Sophia.
As it turns out, the tune is from the 13th Century, written by Kolbeinn Tumason. No, Wuppertal isn’t quite Byzantium, especially inside of the train station, but the lads made a mundane place seem almost holy that day.
For another, perhaps clearer version, check out this performance from Vilnius, Lithuania, in 2012. To hear this as an MP3 or FLAC file, just download the ‘name your price’ album via Bandcamp.
More pagan influence today, this time from Faroese chanteuse Eivør.
Up until today, I had no idea who Schneider Kacirek was. Thanks to Toni Dimitrov, my old friend, I got turned on to this track, and this rather incredible project. It features Stefan Schneider, who was in Kriedler and To Rococo Rot. No wonder why the beats sounded familiar!
Máddji (Norwegian info only) is a Sámi singer from Norway. The vocals are light, but powerful. Lyrics in both English and Sámi are shown below:
Lyrics (English):
You flew in from the dawn
Such a sight when you came into view
You stretched your white wings
Careful embrace
Swan, my swan
Dive, heat my blood
Swan, my swan
Before dawn breaks
You flew in from the dawn
Such a sight when you came into view
You whispered softly
Youthful caress
Swan, my swan
Dive, heat my blood
Swan, my swan
Before dawn breaks
Bring out my yearning
The longing of the lonely
Lyrics (Sámi):
Iđitguovssus girdilit
Hávski lei go iđistit
Vilges dolggiid geigestit
Várrogasat salastit
Njukča, njuvččažan
Buokčal, ligge varan
Njukča, njuvččažan
Ovdal iđitroađi
Iđitguovssus girdilit
Hávski lei go iđistit
Jaskatvuođain savkalit
Nuorravuođain njávkalit
Njukča, njuvččažan
Buokčal, ligge varan
Njukča, njuvččažan
Ovdal iđitroađi
Riegádahte áibbašeami
Oktovuođa váillaheami
Singer and saxophonist Abate Berihun and pianist Yitzhak Yedid form the Duo Ras Dashen. It blends Yedid’s masterful jazz piano with the near liturgical singing style of Berihun. I look forward to hearing recorded product from this pairing soon.
Caetano Veloso in an intimate setting, performing one of the most romantic songs in his catalog.
John Zorn’s wonderful Bar Kokhba Sextet, off their album, Lucifer: Book of Angels, Vol. 10. An unpleasant name for such incredible music.
Morte Macabre are a side-project of modern progressive rock giants Anekdoten. They blend a brutal symphonic sound with chamber-rock, something that reminds me of the Belgian act Univers Zero.
You can hear Part 2 here.
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