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unusualmusic_lj_archiveCeredwen
So, I never thought that someone could beat Enya at her own game. Until I heard Ceredwen's "Or Mabinogi". So freaking good! It's Celtic with electronica mixed in, and the group has been compared with Enigma, Clannad and of course, until this moment Her Royal Highness of New Age, Enya. If you like that stuff, by all means get both of their albums on Amazon or iTunes or wherever.
Nightwish update
I finally heard a full-length song from the new Nightwish album: "Dark Passion Play". In my current state of televisonlessness and interest in music that is by no means mainstream in America anyway, I must give thanks and praise to the creators of youtube. I watched the "Amaranth" video yesterday and I was blown away by the new vocalist's performance of the new material. For one thing, she is a more natural dancer than Tarja. I loved Tarja's voice but winced when I saw her perform on stage, a stiffer performer would be hard to find. Anette is way more rhythmical. For another, her voice is very strong and she is able to sort of go wild with it, it's freer, whereas Tarja's voice was suited to more formal pieces. What will be very interesting to see how Anette interprets the older stuff like "Ghost Love Score", "End of all hope" and the rest. Her voice is markedly different from Tarja's, so she's going to have to pull those off significantly differently from how we are accustomed to hearing them. I look forward to it and am now on tenterhooks for Oct 2 to come around.
Xandria
New group following in Nightwish's, Epica's footsteps. I am currently listening to their newest album, "Salome". Nothing really standing out so far. Nice music, nice voice, but not electrifying. I am drooling over one of their guitarists, though, a young man named Philip. Goddamn it, he is ccccuuuttttteee!!!!!!!! *Drool* Ah-hem, hem, hem. back to the more dignified pose...
Edit:the second half of the album from the song "Salome" steeped up the game a good bit indeed.
Edit: "Sisters of the light" "Firestorm", "Save my life" are my favs as of now. Damn good!
Blackmoor's Night
Nyah. A bit boring "Fires of midnight". Not getting to me at all.
Penumbra
"Season of Mist". Bought it, didn't like it as much as the song "Neutral" from album " Last Bewitchment" and put it down. (Yes, I judged an entire album from one song from the previous album. Sue me.) Several months later, picked it up this morning. It's actually pretty good! Love the interplay between the death growl and the angelic voice.
www.musicaldiscoveries.com has made my year! So many cds to fit my musical tastes, so little money to spare...sigh.
Miriam Stockely released a new album? Hmm. Will have to check it out. I do end of cherry-picking her stuff though. "Adiemus" was of course the gold standard. "Ruwenzori" and "Homeland" were great too. Never did get around to her second album too.
And I really should look into "Dead Can Dance"...
So, I never thought that someone could beat Enya at her own game. Until I heard Ceredwen's "Or Mabinogi". So freaking good! It's Celtic with electronica mixed in, and the group has been compared with Enigma, Clannad and of course, until this moment Her Royal Highness of New Age, Enya. If you like that stuff, by all means get both of their albums on Amazon or iTunes or wherever.
Nightwish update
I finally heard a full-length song from the new Nightwish album: "Dark Passion Play". In my current state of televisonlessness and interest in music that is by no means mainstream in America anyway, I must give thanks and praise to the creators of youtube. I watched the "Amaranth" video yesterday and I was blown away by the new vocalist's performance of the new material. For one thing, she is a more natural dancer than Tarja. I loved Tarja's voice but winced when I saw her perform on stage, a stiffer performer would be hard to find. Anette is way more rhythmical. For another, her voice is very strong and she is able to sort of go wild with it, it's freer, whereas Tarja's voice was suited to more formal pieces. What will be very interesting to see how Anette interprets the older stuff like "Ghost Love Score", "End of all hope" and the rest. Her voice is markedly different from Tarja's, so she's going to have to pull those off significantly differently from how we are accustomed to hearing them. I look forward to it and am now on tenterhooks for Oct 2 to come around.
Xandria
New group following in Nightwish's, Epica's footsteps. I am currently listening to their newest album, "Salome". Nothing really standing out so far. Nice music, nice voice, but not electrifying. I am drooling over one of their guitarists, though, a young man named Philip. Goddamn it, he is ccccuuuttttteee!!!!!!!! *Drool* Ah-hem, hem, hem. back to the more dignified pose...
Edit:the second half of the album from the song "Salome" steeped up the game a good bit indeed.
Edit: "Sisters of the light" "Firestorm", "Save my life" are my favs as of now. Damn good!
Blackmoor's Night
Nyah. A bit boring "Fires of midnight". Not getting to me at all.
Penumbra
"Season of Mist". Bought it, didn't like it as much as the song "Neutral" from album " Last Bewitchment" and put it down. (Yes, I judged an entire album from one song from the previous album. Sue me.) Several months later, picked it up this morning. It's actually pretty good! Love the interplay between the death growl and the angelic voice.
www.musicaldiscoveries.com has made my year! So many cds to fit my musical tastes, so little money to spare...sigh.
Miriam Stockely released a new album? Hmm. Will have to check it out. I do end of cherry-picking her stuff though. "Adiemus" was of course the gold standard. "Ruwenzori" and "Homeland" were great too. Never did get around to her second album too.
And I really should look into "Dead Can Dance"...
