Sam Alone – Dead Sailor (2008) – Raging Planet

Apolinário “Poli” Correia (Devil In Me, For The Glory) deixa de lado o Hardcore por momentos para se munir de uma guitarra acústica e uma harmónica, e assim enveredar pelos mesmos caminhos dos “songwriters” Norte-Americanos e a Country / Folk-Rock de nomes como Bod Dylan, Johnny Cash ou Bob Seger. A ideia chama a atenção e o primeiro tema, “Too Cold, Too Dark”, apesar de não ser nada de transcendental, agrada. Mas essa sensação de estar perante algo interessante desvanece-se rapidamente. A partir daqui, e até ao fim do disco, é um repetir de fórmulas, já por si, com pouca substância, tornando “Dead Sailor” monótono, insípido e perfeitamente dispensável. E, sinceramente, a voz de Poli começa a mexer com os nossos nervos passado um bom bocado. Além disso, a versão descaracterizada de “Instinct”, dos Strike Anywhere, deixa muito a desejar. Eu dispenso. 20% www.myspace.com/samalone / http://www.ragingplanet.pt/ / www.myspace.com/ragingplanetrecordsportugal
RDS

Barr – Skogsbo Is The Place (2008) – Sakuntala / Transubstans

Esta é a estreia em longa duração dos Barr. Depois de um bem recebido EP em 2007, os Suecos assinam com a Sakuntala, uma recém criada sub-etiqueta da Transubstans, e representam a 1ª edição da mesma. Barr é um sexteto acústico que pratica um interessante Folk psicadélico de descendências Fairport Convention, Popol Vuh, Pentangle e Heron. Sete canções de embalar psicadélicas, segundo a denominação da banda para as suas composições, resultaram de uma sessão de dois dias e duas noites. São cerca de 44 minutos de música inspirada, pura, plena de espírito. É pena o som ter ficado muito “moderno”, limpo e com uma orientação quase Pop em alguns momentos; uma certa crueza e toque 70s lo-fi poderiam ter resultado muito melhor. De qualquer maneira, gostei do que ouvi e recomendo. Para fãs das bandas acima mencionadas ou outras mais recentes como Circulus, Porcupine Tree ou Pain Of Salvation (na sua faceta mais calma). 65% http://www.barrmusic.se/ / www.myspace.com/barrmusic / http://www.recordheaven.net/ / www.myspace.com/transubstans / http://recordheaven.blogspot.com/
RDS

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Barr - Sound And The Fury @ Stockholm Café

Dornenreich - Interview

1 – The new record was released by Grau. How did you ended up signing with them in the first place? Are you satisfied with their work with the band so far?
Actually, “In Luft geritzt” (“carved in air”) was released by Prophecy, yet, but I know that they collaborate with Grau and I appreciate Grau releases as well. (ed: sorry, my mistake, Prophecy and Grau are sister labels; the record was, indeed, released by Prophecy).
We are proud to be a part of Prophecy after all these years, yet, for they provide us with total artistic freedom, which is very important for us. The people behind Prophecy appreciate our artistic vision and face us with respect and we – in turn - think highly of their aesthetics, our label-mates and Prophecy’s devotion to their bands. And we do our very best to get our vision across as intensively as possible. So, it’s a fertile collaboration, indeed.

2 – Are you satisfied with this new album “In Luft Geritzt”, the songs, the recording process, production, final product?
Apart from the fact that I have not seen the finished product, yet, I am pleased with this album to its entire extent, that is, the songs, the production, the layout and Prophecy’s marketing.
Although it was a challenge to record the album live/synchronnously without any click-track or any pilot-track as a reference it was worth it, totally, because this pure way of recording led us into a situation in which we really had to dive into the music in order to achieve convincing and satisfying results. Take after take we approached the songs in a natural and deeply dedicated way.

3 – “In Luft Geritzt” is direct, pure, organic. How did you came up with kind of sound? Was it intentional or did it just came out like this?
We wanted the production to do justice to the organic and pure quality of the music itself.
Therefore we decided to record the album live in a vitally sounding room. This way the initial recordings offered a balanced, charismatic and natural sound that did not demand any further fx-postproduction concerning the acoustic atmosphere of the album. To be brief: we simply wanted to catch the archaic passion, joy and grief these songs are bursting with.

4 – What kind of subjects influenced you to write the lyrics for this record?
The individual way I perceive the cycles of nature is my main source of inspiration when it comes to the lyrics. In my opinion one can find that much obvious wisdom when perceiving the cycles of nature and life, consciously.
Consequently, I have always used nature as symbol and metaphor, that is, I have always been keen on the use of suggestive archaic words (such as wind, wood, moon, rock, ..) every human being has conscious and subconscioous bonds with.

5 – Will you play this songs live? Do you have a tour prepared to promote the record?
For sure. Our current live-set relies on songs of “In Luft geritzt”, mainly, but it includes older songs of our former albums as well.
We’ll be playing numerous shows with Devon Graves (Deadsoul Tribe/ex-Psychotic Waltz) and Leafblade (UK) as special guests throughout Europe (check out dornenreich.com). Until now no show in Portugal is confirmed, but we would love to play in your country again. We played in Porto back in 2001 and it was an unforgettable experience. So, local promoters and organizers are welcome to contact us via dornenreich-booking@hotmail.com.

6 – What kind of musical influences do you have in Dornenreich? And literature, cinema and art in general?
Perosonally, I am fascinated with artists, bands and ensembles of numerous various genres.
One constant companion is – for instance – Dead Can Dance. With cinema and film it is quite the same. I appreciate many different genres of movies. One day I might watch Amores Perros and on the next day I might dive into the Lord of the Rings-Trilogy.
Besides, radio-plays are a medium I truly love for it interacts with one’s imagination that much.
Doubtlessly, books are precious companions and I read a lot. Not that much poetry, though.
Recently, I read some novels by Hermann Hesse once again – and it was a gift, doubtlessly.

7 – How do you see the Dark Folk, Folk, Gothic and Metal scenes nowadays? Is there something you would like to highlight?
Actually, I lack an overview for sure, but I guess that’s the rule for there are countless subgenres out there, right now. Gems are to be searched for more intensively than ever before I guess …

8 – You have now some space for a final message.
Well, all I can add is that I would like to thank you for your questions and that we hope to play in Portugal soon. Take good care!

Questions: RDS
Answers: Eviga

Dornenreich: www.dornenreich.com
Prophecy: www.prophecyproductions.de

Dornenreich – In Luft Geritzt (2008) – Prophecy

Eviga, responsável pelo projecto Austríaco Dornenreich, está de volta com um novo trabalho. Desta feita faz-se acompanhar por Inve. Esta nova proposta intitula-se “In Luft Geritzt” e direcciona a sonoridade da banda para territórios mais Folk do que o anterior “Durch Den Traum” de 2006. Folk, Dark Folk, Ambient e Neoclassical são alguns dos termos para categorizar estes 10 temas (pouco mais de 44 minutos). Negra, melancólica, intensa, sentida, é assim a música de Dornenreich. Eviga encarrega-se da voz (quase sempre num tom sussurrado), da guitarra acústica e das percussões, enquanto que Inve encarrega-se do violino. Gostei do anterior, mas este chama-me mais a atenção, talvez por ser mais orgânico, mais visceral, mais sentido. Gostei muito e recomendo a fãs de Dark Folk, Pagan Folk, música acústica e world music em geral. Atenção à já habitual (na Prophecy) edição especial dupla. 85% http://www.dornenreich.com/ / http://www.prophecyproductions.de/
RDS

Sundowner - This War Is Noise (2007 Red Scare)