Artist: ElvenDale
Title: Land Of Legend
Type: Album
Label: Scrapiron Records
Now this is a nice place to be. I think I’ve probably been following Mercian bardic troupe ElvenDale since their first gig or close enough and live they have always been something to look forward to. Using traditional instruments such as lyre, woodwind, shamanic drumming and clear vocals, a deep passion for Northern European dark age music and a gentle sense of humour and self deprecation they have entranced me on numerous occasions. But this is their second studio album, long awaited, and I think it’s fair to say that this has been an altogether more focussed approach.
This is a long listen, a double album reaching out over more than eighty minutes and split into two parts. The first ten are all but one Germanic mythological tales, the second inspired by places the bards have visited, the land, nature turning through seasons.
We begin with ‘Row’. Sweet, light woodwind sounds, the rhythmic drum coming in in with plain sung vocals setting the scene and telling the ale. The sound immediately is so crisp and clean, a sound that sounds as though you are truly sitting in the same wooden walled room as the musicians. It shifts to a deeply melodic song and chant. The simple instrumentation is exquisitely arranged with the use of deeper woodwind and strings. Even the end use of the sound of waves sounds so fresh you can taste the salt in the air.
‘A Lay Of The Winter Full Moon’ is a like a call to the village, a summons to the celebration and thoughts turning to the long dead kin. The vocals, here led by Grace Newton’s beautiful clarity, are mixed with Hrafn Rìkharðsson’s deeper tones and the backing vocals in a simply enthralling manner. Rúnfríðr Beinirsdottir and Eira Þrudsdottir provide the woodwind music and the drumming respectively as well as those fine backing vocals and the whole becomes something quite entrancing.
We get one of my personal live favourites ‘Mother Night’, songs such as the beautifully picked lyre sounds of ‘A Sennan Sunrise’ and a voice which simply fills you with soul deep warmth and ‘The Moonlight, The Keep and The Northern Sea’ to close our journey with the full wild beauty of the land and the warming touch of a good ale.
It would be pointless, not to mention far too lengthy to dissect this album track by track. This is a mood and an atmosphere you need to sink deeply and gently into. ElvenDale have always had a real warmth and humanity about them and you have captured it beautifully in the studio here. From songs that might be leading a village in worship on a holy day, to tales that sound as though I’ve just wandered into the tavern on a cold night to find travelling players and a warm fire this is a beautifully crafted and recorded world.
This is deeply emotional, heartfelt music. ElvenDale are on a steadfast mission to share what they see, what they hear and what they love with everyone. Delicate but passionate, and with such a deep rich sound captured so damned well in the studio it makes my heart ache to see them live again and share a mug or two.
Dark age folk music with a gentle but firm hold on your heart and soul to keep you there. Pull up a stool, accept a beer and relax by the hearth. No better place to be.
Gizmo
Walking The Liminal Space 