Joakim Eskildsen

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Faust & Dälek - Derbe Respect, Alder

Label : Staubgold
Catalog# : staubgold 50
Country : Germany
Released : 2004
Style : Leftfield, Noise, Hip Hop, Experimental

Tracklisting :

01 Imagine What We Started
02 Hungry For Now
03 Remnants
04 Dead Lies
05 Erratic Thoughts
06 Bullets Need Violence
07 Collected Twighlight
08 T-Electronique

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Rafael Anton Irisarri - Hopes And Past Desires

Label : Immune
Catalog# : IMMUNE003
Country : UK
Released : 2009
Style : Modern Classical, Ambient

Tracklisting :

01 Hopes And Past Desires
02 Watching As She Reels

"The man behind The Sight Below (and, of course, the excellent Daydreaming album on Miasmah) returns with a gorgeous, limited edition 7" for new Chicago imprint, Immune. The Seattle-dwelling composer teams up with Dany Norbury for 'Hopes And Past Desires', a mesmerising, hauntingly beautiful piece of music comprised of exchanges between muffled electric piano chords and Norbury's otherworldly, reverberant strings. In terms of its constituent parts this is an incredibly simple piece of music, but there's magic in these grooves, and Irisarri's music makes a resoundingly haunting contribution to the realm of electronic/modern classical composition. Flip over and 'Watching As She Reels' is suggestive of a more upbeat take on Deaf Center's Pale Ravine, or perhaps a more minimal Library Tapes; there's a certain sepia-tinted quality to these sounds, and the whole exercise seems soaked in memory and a sense of nostalgia (for something or other) that always manages to avoid outright sentimentality. Absolutely sublime music - pick one up while you can." Boomkat

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Rafael Anton Irisarri - Daydreaming

Label : Miasmah
Catalog# : MIACD004
Country : Norway
Released : 2007
Style : Modern Classical, Ambient

Tracklisting :

01 Waking Expectations
02 A Thousand-Yard Stare
03 Wither
04 Lumberton
05 Voigt-Kampf
06 Fractal
07 A Glimpse

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Scivias - Stong-pa-nyid

Label : Eis Und Licht
Catalog# : Eis041
Country : Germany
Released : 2004
Style : Experimental, Ambient

Tracklisting :

01 Stong-pa-nyid I
02 Stong-pa-nyid II

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Agalloch - Of Stone, Wind, And Pillor

Label : The End Records
Catalog# : TE020
Country : US
Released : 2001
Style : Doom Metal

Tracklisting :

01 Of Stone, Wind, And Pillor
02 Foliorum Viridium
03 Haunting Birds
04 Kneel To The Cross (Sol Invictus Cover)
05 A Poem By Yeats

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Arja Hyytiäinen

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Cawatana - Struggle For Wisdom

Label : Eis Und Licht
Catalog# : Eis031
Country : Germany
Released : 2003
Style : Neofolk

Tracklisting :

01 God Gave It, You Take It
02 Substantia
03 Real, Open
04 Something
05 In Darkness
06 Irrahme
07 Oh, Cheerful Days Come
08 White
09 Oh, Kill
10 Hold (Fénylik Hideg Hold / Csak A Hold Ragyog / Where No Stars Dwell)
11 ...És Végül Minden Vörös

"Cawatana is Sörös Gergo (acoustic guitars, vocals, percussion and keyboards) and Kiss Balázs (acoustic and classical guitars) with support from Benko Mihály (keyboards), Kiss Kornél (bass) and Marschalek Rita (vocals).
Percussion, guitars, and male and female vocals in English and Hungarian mesh smoothly to produce a fresh and interesting combination of synthetic and organic elements in a style that travels faultlessly between filmic-neoclassical and neofolk.
I particularly like the military percussion and trumpet sounds that comprise the first part of the second track, 'Substantia', although these are not typify the rest of the album." FluxEuropa

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Tony Wakeford - La Croix

Label : Tursa
Catalog# : TURSA 007 CD
Country : UK
Released : 1993
Style : Modern Classical, Neofolk

Tracklisting :

01 La Croix
02 The Fool
03 Double Cross
04 Come The Horsemen
05 The Wheel Of The Sun
06 The Yew
07 La Croix

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Plasma Pool - I

Label : Miscarriage Records
Catalog# : MS 010
Country : Italy
Released : 1996
Style : Techno, Experimental, Industrial

Tracklisting :

01 Prince Of Fire (1993)
02 False The Saints (1992)
03 Story Of Flying (1993)
04 Brainsucker (1991)
05 1993 (Live In Budapest; 1992-03-26)
06 Again (Live In Szeged; 1992-09-16)
07 Spider (Live In Sopron; 1993-05-14)
08 Elsietett Temetés (1994)
09 Tampa Baj (1994)

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Backworld - Good Infection

Label : Discalcula
Cataloge# : none
Country : US
Released : 2007
Style : Neofolk

Tracklisting :

01 New Light
02 Come Sunday Morn
03 Gentle Rain
04 Lady Of Sorrows
05 Damaged Angel
06 Between Two Worlds
07 Seeds Of Love
08 Immaculate Child
09 Three Reflections
10 Divine Love Befalls
11 What Lies Behind
12 The Infection

"Twelve songs compose Backworld's new record. Since 2001 this project, captained by Joseph Budenholzer had not released a new album. Before the pause, Backworld have been a proficient reference from the World Serpent Distribution, including four previous records and a live album. Joseph has been active during these years of Backworld’s silence, recording, working on a parallel punk-rock project in Glasgow and mastering the Backworld material. Nonetheless, the wait has been long yet fruitful. The album counts with collaborations such as Isobel Campbell (Belle & Sebastian, Gentle Waves), David Tibet (Current 93) and Drew McDowall (Coil). ‘Good Infection’ is also a more coherent and compact record than mostof their previous album. It is full of solid songs, great melodies and simple structures covered with numerous instruments.
'Good Infection' is definitely dedicated to Christianity yet it is in no way maniqueist. In a recent interview Backworld informs that the name comes from a chapter of ‘Mere Christianity’ by C.S. Lewis. The record is an close, creative, sometimes even pornographic thematic composition. Backworld are not sexual or aggressive as Spiritual Front (www.spiritualfront.com) can be in the religious theme, yet they are not orthodox. It is more as if the entire world they portray is defined by the teachings they have been subjected to and absorbed during their youth and adolescence, and how the adult mind reads them in a different, more complex and subjective way. Nonetheless, the record bleeds spirituality and awareness, a luminous and constructive way of rearranging the established truths.
'New Light' uses a double vocal line to create a thick and classically folk sound. The guitar and the vocals create the main melody line, yet the cello enters with the chorus, giving it a special approachable, earthly and endearing quality. The use of the chord instruments in the record is sublime, every time the cello breaks into a song in contraposition with the guitar it takes the song a step further towards something unique. There is no doubt that Backworld is one of those singular bands that make folk music with a vivacious, organic quality - they are open to the use of many different instruments instead of falling into the prototypes dark folk has moved into. The shadow of Current 93 moves hand in hand with Forseti's magnificent multinstrumentalism yet maintains the mellow, nostalgic nature of darker World Serpent acts.
'Come Sunday Morn' opens with the raspy and honest voice of Joseph Budenholzer, and is soon sheltered by a piano and guitar melody, ever changing and growing. It is a very folk song, catchy and energetic. They are capable of adding non-verbal, pop spirited vocal lines. More instruments are added, as is a double voice line and a female chorus. The organ sounds give the climax to a song that sways between intimate and epic, where the final chord sound catches a vibrant radiant quality. 'Lady of Sorrows' follows a more classical structure, risking less with the changes and mesmerizing slowly in a folk, simple and easy melody. The chorus comes in naturally, lifted by the cello. 'Lady of Sorrows' is tranquil, truthful and flows effortlessly from one strophe into the other until one is completely surrounded by its ethereal touch. It is followed by 'Damaged Angel' were the voice takes the spotlight over the music, that had reigned in 'Lady of Sorrows'. It is, in a Baroque way, a sort of conversation between music and voice: the slow and harmonically singing takes over and leads the song into a path - the music melody closely follows as a echo to let the voice move in again. Up until the melancholic chorus, of course, where diverse voice lines overcome the music and then unwind for the cellos to take over.
In the meantime, 'Seeds of Love' opens with a singular guitar melody: a perfect mixture of folk and a small seasoning of organic psychedelia. The reciting lays the structure while the chorus is a double tempo explosion in a mid-paced music loop surrounded by oscillating arrangements. 'Immaculate Child', whose lyrics were written together with David Tibet and Maya Harding, is a miniaturist collection of guitar notes and falling words. Every instrument's notes fall like raindrops into the wave like structure of the song. 'Immaculate Child' posses a fragile quality, close to vaporous yet strangely magnetic.
'Divine Love Befalls' is full of energy, starts almost 'in media res', closes into a folk pop condition. There are many changes in a song that moves from being almost recited to having a richly melodic chorus. The instruments are constantly coming in and out, each with its own thread, weaving a complex and beautiful shimmering and carnal pattern. Even if located near the end of the record, his song should be listen to attentively and savored... no tiring, please! 'What Lies behind' is softened and creamier, the notes are elongated and yearning -the voice lets each letter roll through the air and hang in space as long as it can be spread out. It gives an unearthly feeling to the song, keeping it dreamy. To close, 'The Infection' has strength and a complicated combination of veiled fury and chanting. The surprising drum work moves the song into darkwave, making it pretty clear that Backworld must not be taken for granted. This could definitely be played in all those illustrated post-punk venues between old Durruti Column and new Thatch Noir. Superb finishing kick!
There are two songs where the female voice has full protagonism. They are used as counterpoints for the surrounding compositions and in that roll achieve importance and interest. Nonetheless, personally I enjoy the male singing much more in this record. The female voice is a bit too airy and forced. It does, however, have a delicate quality to it - sort of like a chipped piece of precious porcelain that could be broken at any moment and it held with awe. The music that accompanies the voice in both 'Gentle Rain' and 'Between Two Worlds' is excellent, and manages to create a splendid atmosphere around the voice, such as the elfish music box quality of "Dream on the shore / we drift as if in sleep before we rise./ Dream on the shore/ I turn if just to see the path unwind." Of course, this is an opinion. I am sure many of you will find absolute pleasure in the female voice and will think the record worse if it did not include it... Anyhow, 'Good Infection' is a brilliant record, abundant with details, alluring and captivating that can be counted in one of the 'must-have's for the year that fades." Heathen Harvest

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Backworld - Seeds Of Love

Label : Harbinger House
Catalog# : HCDEP 002
Country : UK
Released : 2003
Style : Neofolk

Tracklisting :

01 Seeds Of Love
02 Tammy
03 This Tree Born Of Man's Afflic
04 The Lamb And The Lion
05 Three Days

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Backworld - Of Silver Sleep

Label : Harbinger House
Catalog# : HCD 004
Country : UK
Released . 2001
Style : Neofolk

Tracklisting :

01 Hands of Ash
02 The Sparrows
03 Little Red Stars
04 Melody
05 Gospel of Mary
06 A Place in Heaven
07 A Shepherd's Tale
08 The Tide
09 The Golden Path
10 Lullaby Land
11 Of Silver Sleep

"This is a highly accomplished work from a talented artist with a seemingly effortless delivery that is at once simple and masterly in the best (neo)-folk tradition.
The 11-track album features Joseph Budenholzer and friends including Michael Cashmore who plays 12-string guitar on 'A Shepherd's Tale' for which he also wrote the music. The other friends are Julia Kent (cello), Connie Petruk (vocals, piano), Paul Geluso (bass), Laura Cromwell (drums), and Claudia Chopek (violin). B'eirth of In Gowan Ring also contributes a recorder solo on the title and closing track, 'Of Silver Sleep', which was co-written with Julia Kent.
With a nod to psychedelic folk, Joseph's distinctive style is hallmarked by a soothing voice and twinkling guitar, but the attractive sound is often belied by dark and disturbing themes, although this CD seems less dark than some previous material.
'Hands of Ash' is a tender and moving song about the reuniting of two ghostly lovers. 'The Sparrows' is a deathbed song underlining the ultimate loneliness of existence as an individual human, with shades of Wordsworth and ancient folk beliefs as sparrows fly away with the soul. 'Melody' concerns the annual birth, death and rebirth of crops, another archetypical theme from the age before we all became buried in glass and concrete. And yet our insulation from the natural environment cannot alter the reality of human futility as we are reminded by 'The Tide', a poetic underlining of the old adage about time and tide." FluxEuropa

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Backworld - The Fourth Wall

Label : Harbinger House
Catalog# : HCD 005
Country : UK
Released : 2001
Style : Neofolk

Tracklisting :

01 Hands Of Ash
02 Leaves Of Autumn
03 Mary Of The Blue Sky
04 The Sparrows
05 Little Red Stars
06 Pleasure Park
07 Melody
08 The Devil's Plaything
09 The Tide

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Backworld - The Orchids

Label : Harbinger House
Catalog# : HCDEP 001
Country : UK
Released : 2000
Style : Neofolk

Tracklisting :

01 The Orchids
02 Flowers In Flame

"This CD was originally intended to be available only at the infamous Wave Gotik Treffen 2000 in Leipzig. It features a rendition of 'The Orchids' by Psychic TV, a poignant tune about the sublime joys of genital piercing that predates the advent of piercing salons in every shopping mall. Also included 'Flowers In Flame', a radical mix of a track from 'Anthems From The Pleasure Park'. The package has a burning flowers motif and a fractal stained glass design on the disk. Along with Joseph Budenholzer the tracks feature Julia Kent (cello) and Connie Petruk (vocals)." Strange Fortune

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Backworld - Isles Of The Blest

Label : Harbinger House
Catalog# : HCD 002
Country : UK
Released : 1998
Style : Neofolk

Tracklisting :

01 The Isles of the Blest
02 Heaven's Gate
03 God Against All
04 The Desert Has 12 Things
05 Mary Of the Blue Sky
06 Lies And Lullabies
07 Who's To Judge
08 Vox Sacra- Ancient Lies
09 Harrow Of Skulls
10 Season Of Sacrifice
11 Beautiful Dream
12 Leaving the Isles of the Blest
13 Maroon Heaven

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