Quick (Pagan Music) Notes
As you may know, in addition to this blog, I also maintain a weekly ongoing streaming radio show and podcast dedicated to darker streams of Pagan music. So in that spirit, I have a few music-related news items to share with you today.
New Album From Omnia: Gothtronic alerts us that European Pagan folk act Omnia have scheduled a new album release, entitled “Wolf Love”, for September.
“Dutch pagan folk band Omnia will release their new album ”Wolf Love” at 10.09 through Screaming Banshee records. 2011 will bring the band to many German festival stages. With this event the conquering of the German medieval music market has started. First the band Omnia can be seen at the biggest fantasy festival of Holland, Castlefest, and at a theater tour through The Netherlands.”
For those lucky enough to go to this year’s Castlefest, you’ll be spoiled by performances from Pagan acts like Omnia, Faun, and The Moon & The Nightspirit. You’ll also be able to buy an advance copy of “Wolf Love”. Makes you want to see Holland, doesn’t it?
Speaking of Pagan Music Performances: Holland too expensive? How about Eugene, Oregon? Faerieworlds 2010 is coming up, July 30th – August 1st, and will feature Pagan and Pagan-friendly acts like Faun, Stellamara, Australia’s Wendy Rule, and Tricky Pixie among others.
“Faerieworlds is famous for introducing international acclaimed bands to the West Coast festival scene. This year we are taking out all the stops: we are featuring seven new bands who will perform on the Faerieworlds stage in Eugene for the first time. This is the most amazing main stage line-up we have ever presented: check it out!”
It’s a fun time, and hopefully it won’t be in record-breaking heat again this year. Probably the biggest Pagan-friendly music event this year, though October’s Pagan Music That Doesn’t Suck festival may rival it.
Mysticism and Music: Lashtal passes the word that Weiser has just released the John Zorn-edited “Arcana V: Music, Magic and Mysticism”, featuring contributions from Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, Meredith Monk, Larkin Grimm, and several other luminaries who walk that liminal space between music and magic.
“Mysticism, magic and alchemy all come into play in the creative process. For centuries musicians have tapped into things spiritual, embracing ritual, spell, incantation and prayer deeply into their life and work. Although the connection of music to mysticism has been consistent, well documented and productive, it is still shrouded in mystery and largely misunderstood. For this special edition, Arcana focuses on the nexus of mysticism and spirituality in the magical act of making music. Far from an historical overview or cold musicologist’s study, these essays illuminate a fascinating and elusive subject via the eloquent voices of today’s most distinguished modern practitioners and greatest occult thinkers, providing insights into the esoteric traditions and mysteries involved in the composition and performance of the most mystical of all arts.”
Sounds like a must own for anyone who is interested in explorations of how the performance, creation, and experience of music is one of the greatest mystical and magical practices.
The Apocalypse According to David Tibet: In a final quick note, for fans of David Tibet’s magick-making gnostic music project Current 93, The Quietus has a review of their latest offering “Baalstorm, Sing Omega”.
“Current 93′s progression from their post-industrial loops roots, through occultscapes with a heavy Crowley lean and pastoral pentagram/pentecostal folk, has seen them recently arrive at hyper-visual prog-folk-rock preaching. Surprisingly sharp on the heels of last year’s Aleph at Hallucinatory Mountain and as the final piece of a trilogy, Baalstorm Sing Omega sees the band withdrawing from their recent heavier rock-rooted sound. Where the first two-thirds of the trilogy went for the horizon blotting sounds of a bigger, more typical rock aesthetic, the band here are a far gentler collective. Melancholia lies heavy in their hands.”
For those intrigued by this review, but overwhelmed by Current 93′s impressive breadth of output, here’s a quick guide to what the album’s sound like.
That’s all I have for now, have a great day!
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