Agalloch - The White EP

Artists:Agalloch
Album: The White EP
Year: 2008
Genre:Ambient - folk, Neo-folk, Symphonic/Folk Metal
Bitrate:160 Kbps
Country:United States

Hailing from the misty forests of Portland Oregon, Agalloch has earned themselves a substantial cult following with their blend of atmospheric black metal that incorporates folk and ambient elements, producing several critically acclaimed albums and EPs over the last decade. The White EP continues on with the band’s distinguished tradition with a renewed emphasis on the neo-folk aspect of their sound, mostly relying on acoustic guitars, hushed vocals and atmospheric effects to get to black heart of this dark genre.

The White EP is essentially calls for a return to nature, as the songs conjure images of snow covered wilderness (”Birch White”), contemplative seclusion (”Isle of Summer”) and paganism’s worship of the elements (”Sowilo Rune”). The whole experience, made complete with natural sound effects like chirping and rustling, is meditative and comforting, conveying a deep and eternal connection with our natural surroundings. The delicate piano lines that grace the final two tracks carefully lead us out of the forest and into the cold twilight, confirming that Agalloch’s intentions give credence to emotional appeals rather than sheer volume. The White EP, steeped in mellow atmosphere and naturalistic overtones, vividly captures the haunting beauty of winter. While these songs never reach the chilling climaxes the band has conquered on their previous full lengths, they still manage to build on the folk traditions that make their sound seem so natural and unique. It will interesting to see where the new paths explored here will lead to on their next LP. Recommended.

Λουδοβίκος των Ανωγείων - Το Μεϊντάνι

Artist: Loudovikos ton Anoyíon
Album: To Meintani
Year: 1993
Genre:Folk
Country:Greece




Loudovikos-Ποιο το χρώμα της Αγάπης

Loudovikos ton Anogeion with his gentle voice, the compelling lyricism of his songs and his emotionally sensitive arrangments have enchanted Greek audiences for years. His midnight concerts in historic settings have cult status, and his CDs habitually top the Greek charts, staying there for weeks.
His lyrics are inspired by his profound knowledge of the way of life, the feelings and the destiny of the people who live here. In the foreword to this edition, Loudovikos wrote: "Up here on the barren slopes of Mount Psiloritis, people listen to the spirit of the stones. We sing of unrequited love and the paths it takes. And we still sing of death in a deeply erotic way. The people of the mountains are closer to the heavens."

Renbourn John - The Lady And The Unicorn

Artist:Renbourn John
Album: The Lady And The Unicorn
Year: 1971
Genre:Neo-classical, Traditional folk
Country:United Kingdom

John Renbourn (born August 8, 1944, Marylebone, London, England) is an English guitarist and songwriter.While most commonly labelled a folk musician, Renbourn's musical tastes and interests take in early music, classical music, blues and world music.Throughout the late '60s and early '70s, John Renbourn alternated albums by the Pentangle and duet records with his longtime partner Bert Jansch with small-scale, somewhat experimental solo records. 1971's instrumental THE LADY AND THE UNICORN blends Renbourn's extraordinary six and 12-string acoustic guitars with subtle flute, violin, tasteful sitar, and hand percussion.

THE LADY AND THE UNICORN is part early music (the opening "Trotto" and "Saltarello"), part traditional English ballad (the closing medley incorporates "My Johnny Was a Shoemaker" and "Scarborough Fair"), and part jazz and world-tinged Renbourn originals. These eight tunes are flawlessly played, with enough humor and grace that Renbourn's ample chops are never the main attraction. THE LADY AND THE UNICORN should be of interest to Renbourn's usual folk audience and to fans of early and Renaissance-era music.

Personnel: John Renbourn (guitar, sitar); Dave Swarbrick (violin); Don Harper (viola); Tony Roberts, Ray Warleigh (flute); Len Nicholson (concertina); Terry Cox (hand drums, glockenspiel).

"...a beautiful instrumental record...a variety of short songs, medieval pieces and early classical things done with guitar, flute, violin, and even a trace of sitar...The selection of timeless, haunting, exquisite medieval and renaissance music on this album will truly transport you to another time and place"

Rome - Masse Mensch Materia

Artist:Rome
Album:Masse Mensch Materia
Year: 2008
Genre: Neo-folk,Industrial,Martial
Country:Luxemburg

After the two successful releases Nera and Confessions d’un Voleur d’Ames, Rome is back at the frontlines with their third studio album Masse Mensch Material. Usually a third album of a band is important for the further direction and development of their music. The sound of this increasing popular martial folk project on Cold Meat Industry on the new album is more accessible than ever before. The songs by Jerome Reuter always had next to the martial industrial, neofolk. and neoclassical dark ambient influences a certain flair which reminds one of darkwave and new wave pop music and it is exactly this element which Jerome has refined further on Masse Mensch Material.

The songs themselves however have too much depth to label them as mere pop songs. The approach is a bit more subtle than before since the bombastic martial industrial has almost completely been removed in favour of the more thoughtful melancholic sounding songs like ‘Wir Gotter der Stadt’, ‘Die Nelke’, and ‘Der Erscheinungen Flucht’; which show a fascinating world of contradicting emotions like cruelty as well as affection, reflected musically with beautiful melodies and an excellent sound. Also when the atmosphere does go more towards martial pop, such as in the splendid track ‘Der Brandtaucher’, it is noticeable that the instrumentation is very varied with the effective use of percussion and bass which create an almost danceable rhythm.

Jerome now has support in the studio from Patrick Damiani, in whose studio the album was also recorded. It is striking to hear that now the approach of the songs go more towards pop; it also becomes clear that Jerome is a really gifted singer. The song ‘Die Brandstifter’ reminds me very much of the work of Tom Waits. ‘Wir Moorsoldaten’ shows in a splendid way (and contrary to the song title it is sung in English!) yet again the martial influence in this remarkable neofolk project. The neofolk song ‘’Neue Erinnerung’ illustrates why Death in June is often mentioned as an influence on Rome, but it actually is not one of the best songs on this album.

Rome proves with this third album that they have become the new face of dark romanticism. Leonard Cohen has found a musical and spiritual heir in Jerome Reuter, who with his original voice in very ingenious songs manages to make the listener surrender completely. Masse Mensch Material is the best Rome album so far."(gothtronic.com)

Rome - Confessions D'Un Voleur D'Ames

Artist:Rome
Album:Confessions D'Un Voleur D'Ames
Year: 2007
Genre: Industrial, Martial, Neo-folk
Country:Luxemburg

Rome is a Luxembourgian act on the Cold Meat Industry label.Rome is the future of the neo-folk world. It does not fall into the same four chords played with the guitar in a “wanting to live up to Death in June” sound. And it moves enough into post-industrialism to be called experimental and to be misunderstood. This fresh combination of sounds: great guitar work, martial percussion, pop melodies and dark crooning, capture the listener and transport them into a different world.

Or in other words; Rome is about emotive songs that are both catchy and disturbed. The songs awake memories of love and death, with the reoccurring themes of despair and loss, guilt and grief, might and war.

"Only a few months after the release of its first full-length album NERA, ROME is back yet again to show that it's here to stay. CONFESSIONS D'UN VOLEUR D'AMES is a call from a world where love and despair are locked in an embrace. A black craving in the fangs of war, the joys of stealth in a riot of blossoms.
This second album is calmer and rather more personal than NERA. These confessions are often dark and poetic, sometimes brutal, but most of all intimate. Again you will find traces of all kinds of genres of obscure music; ambient, neo-classical, dark wave, apocalyptic folk, martial industrial. ROME couldn't care less about boundaries of genres. However, the tone is less militant, the main themes being treachery and sacrifice, temperance and composure.
With a distinctive slice of military suicide pop fiddled into their sound, ROME has established itself as one of the most lively and interesting "martial" folk acts up and about. These confessions prove that ROME has become a force to be reckoned with."(klicktrack.com)