Playlist "Psyche Van Het Folk", Radio Centraal, Antwerpen. 2003-07-02 : The American Wicca & Pagan Folk movement part 2. -PS. The kind of grading indicates only how perfect a release is, or how classic, unique for the genre it is or how much individual expressiveness it has. The more stars it has the more important it is to have heard it. If you have interest in the genre *** and more are recommended listens. If not particularly interested in the genre, but in good music only ***° is a suggestion to try out, and ****° or ***** is a must. Grading : ** good ***very good **** perfect ° upgrade for quality of various tracks but not all of them ***** a classic, a must have/heard, unique in its kind.- Part 1 : early Pagan songs. * Serpent's Egg Andras & Deirdre Arthen (US,1993)** Tr.2, "Water, Fire & Smoke" 5 min OK and fine songs on this early Pagan sit-by-the fire folk release. This is a wonderful song (performance & writing) with magical touch. Info : http://www.serpentinemusic.com/ Part 2 : SHARON KNIGHT & KARL FRANZEN * Flowing Glass Music First of May : for earth and her people (US, 1986)****° Tr.1, "John Riley" 5 min Tr.3, "Lara" 6 min Tr.4, "The Faery Song" 8 min Tr.11, "Love is when" 5 min A classic of the Wicca Folk scene, magic(k)al like the best early 70's UK folk scene sound (Sandy Denny, C.O.B.,..). Pastoral. Review : http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/WICCAREVIEW2.html with sound files at http://www.flowinglass.com/may/disc.html * Trance Jam Rec. Sharon Knight : Incantation (US,1996)*** Tr.7, "Double-Edged Sword" 7 min 27 Good folk & folkrock style & songs. This track is great folkrock styled with a full band (reminiscent of let's say Spriguns). Info : http://www.pandemonaeon.com/incantation.html More soundfiles : http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/204/sharon_knight.html * Trance Jam Rec. Pandemonaeon : Tribal Trance Rock (US,1997-2000)**° Tr.5, "Kashlimar" 3 min Tr.6, "Black Snake" 4 min 7 34 (Sharon's new) Band with ethnical, tribal, rock, progressive & dark psych rock, trance & urban rock & wave influences. Has already a very live urban rock band sound. Promising for further future evolution. I still need to hear this release a few more times. The band has a new (live) release which I did not hear yet. It's with an Egyptian percussionist. The band often performs with belly dancing. Info : http://www.pandemonaeon.com/ * Flowing Glass Music Avalon Rising (US,1995)*** Tr.2, "Where the Sunset is golden" 6 min Tr.7, "God walks among us" 5 min 11 45 A group with medieval, textured folkrock, and some rock inspiration. These are my two favourite tracks, with a very strong band sound. "Where Sunset is Golden" has a wonderful flute / horn melodic arrangement combined with acoustic guitar melody and the strong folkrock sound of the band with a romantic voice. Harp is played by Margaret Davis. Out of this group evolved Broceliande, where Franzen is part of. Review at http://singersong.homestead.com/MedievalDCD.html Info on Broceliande : www.broceliande.org * Flowing Glass Music Margaret Davis : Princess of Flowers (US,1995)***° Tr.4, "Thai Mi Sgith" 6 min 6 51 Fine blend of inspiration by the Medieval sound, the harp & folk(rock). With the help of lots of studio musicians including Broceliande. Info : http://www.flowinglass.com/ with soundfiles at http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/32/margaret_davis_solo_artis.html Part 3 : new private releases * Private Erika : Satyrs & Sirens (US,2001)**°? Tr.3, "Reflection" 4 min Arranged folk music based upon the harp. Often with vocals, always with "sweet & nice" arrangements & harp. This track is an instrumental, and it is my favourite track of the album. Review : http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/WICCAREVIEW.html Info : www.harpiegirl.com I noticed that in Belgium Loreena McKennith has a lot of success with Wicca and Pagan groups. These harp musicians (although different in style) might appeal to the same persons. * Folk Nouveau Izolda : Sound the deep Waters (US,2003)***' Tr.1, "Sun-warmed" 5 min Tr.2, "Sound the deep Waters" 5 min Tr.10, "Solstice Morn" 5 min 15 Fine songs, and with the band at its best in a fine acid folk style that reminds me at Kiva at its best. With help musicians from Kiva (that worked with Green Crown too). Izolda has a great very suitable voice for acid folk. Izolda was part of the Kiva group some ten years ago. 2 first tracks have a fine middle eastern flavour. Review at http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/WICCAREVIEW2.html * Wild Mane Music Victoria Parks : Wild English Rose (US,2003)***(°) Tr.10, "Wild English Rose" 5 min 75 Difficult to place as music style. It has something of the mood of a more modest or common local UK country place folk, with very open heart in singing, with both an English styled influence (with English legends and stories) and a more sweetened nostalgic American folk flavour touch. Not "progressive"(!), but made with perfectionism and an open heart in the old traditions. With very arranged songs in a folk style with classical arrangements. Best to hear in its completeness. Review at http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/WICCAREVIEW2.html * Heartfire Anne Lister : Singing on the wind (US,1999)***(°) Tr.8, "The well beneath the sea" 4 min 5 80 Matured and beautiful voice (Lal Waterson,Vera Coomans, late Marian Faithful,...) and songs. A bit Scottish folk styled, very arranged. Recommended if you like UK folk with some traditional touch. Review at http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/WICCAREVIEW2.html part 4, GREEN CROWN Private Olvardil Prydwyn & Diana McFadden : The Witch in the well (US,1997)***** Tr.4, "Isle of Isley" 4 min Tr.5, "Porpoise Mouth" 4 min Tr.7, "See Emily Play (Games for May)" 8 min 16 One of the most beautiful and mature male troubadour voices (Prydwyn) & harp players accompanied with cello (Diana). Incredibly beautiful versions of pagan related songs. First song is a traditional, last one is from Syd Barrett (early Pink Floyd). A must. Info : http://www.greencrown.com/gc/witw.html Private Green Crown : With Which to feed the Fairies" (US,1997-2001)***° Tr.7, "Willow's Song" 5 min (Tr.9, "Tourdion" 2 min) Tr.10, "The End" 15 min 22 Live recordings from this fantastic group. There are again some incredible versions added of classic (mostly) pagan related songs. "Willow Song" is known from the soundtrack of "The Wickerman", "Legend of a Mind" is a Moody Blues track, "White Rabbit" is from Grace Slick, "The End" (like the earlier "Break on Trough" is from the Doors. Hope this will be released on CD/LP one day. Review at http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/WICCAREVIEW2.html Fissure Rec. Soy Soy : Six Teaspoons of Eiran Cari (B,2001)*** Tr.2, "One with the Wind" 7 min Tr.7, "Waking the witch" 7 min 14 134 Fine Belgian Pagan urban wave group with nice vocals. Review : http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/WICCAREVIEW.html outro (non Pagan but urban wave related) : Private Mercymachine : In Your Bed ( ,200?)*** Tr.1, (cdr1,14), "Fountain Street" 4 min Tr.2, (cdr1,15), "My Joan of Arc" 4 min 142 Fine music for Dead Can Dance lovers. Dual angelic female vocals, with double layered cello, textured percussion. Dark & dreamy gothic pop. The remixes have a more popular sound and modern rhythms. Reminds me a bit at Vishnu's Secret. Review at http://singersong.homestead.com/MedievalDCD.html Info : http://mercymachine.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- General page for Wicca & Pagan music : http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/WICCA_FOLK_and_NEOPAGAN_FOLK.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other playlists : http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/2003.html General index page : www.radiocentraal.be/psychevanhetfolk with more detailed index page at http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/index.html Receive weekly playlist before the radioshow with new on line reviews and various additional comments / news : Ontvang wekelijks playlist vòòr de radio-uitzending : Subscribe / schrijf u in : psychevanhetfolk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com