Eden - Fire & Rain (c) 1995 Hyperion
Artist....: Eden
Album.....: Fire & Rain
Type......: Normal release
Source....: CD
Tracks....: 11
Genre.....: Darkwave
Label.....: Hyperion
Catalogue#: Projekt 54
Encoder...: FLAC 1.3.1
Quality...: 856 kbps / 44.1kHz / 2 channels
URL.......: http://edenseanbowley.com/
Tracklist:
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1 The Darkness In Me 5:30
2 Snake 3:53
3 Why? 5:17
4 Hooveless Horses 5:12
5 Fire And Rain 4:03
6 Sky Above, Sea Below 3:58
7 Song Slowly Song 2:58
8 Stretched On Your Grave 6:19
9 Rooms Above the Sea 2:08
10 Breath Upon New Eyes 3:39
11 Just Like Water; You Run From My Eyes 4:20
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47:17
Total:308.88MB / 47:17
Release Notes:
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This 1994/95 recording released by Projekt features a band from Australia to
give us a taste of the darkside from down under. Unfortunately, the only other
information that can be accessed about this group is posted on the Projekt label
online catalog.
The Darkness In Me is a love song honoring two dark natured souls who finally
meet and embrace this realm together. This track is full flavored Goth with the
just the right combination of church organ type sounds and angelic choirs during
the refrain.
Snake is mournful, honoring the dead bride that does not sing any longer. "My
poor bride lies broken. No more I hear her wanton song. Love lies dead - in my
head". Again we encounter the typical minor chords prevalent in Goth, but they
are so accurately placed to make it still sound fresh.
Why? begins with an electronic wailing where we encounter that realization of a
relationship that will eventually fall apart but we choose to "ride it to the
end." The calculated electronics that give the impression of lamentation
sporadically play between this almost folk Goth song.
Hooveless Horses is among my favorite tracks. It creates the aura of the Phantom
of Opera with the vocal reverb sounding as if it is coming from the walls. This
track also utilized every microphone mechanization known to us at that time to
showcase the voice in every possible sound environment. It is totally played via
keyboard to provide a church organ sound that lends to the mystique very well.
Fire and Rain begins with a low drone with what sounds likes sticks burning in
the background. Musically, this song employs sounds reminiscent of the Middle
Ages with Gregorian chants. We are brought to a place where one is so taken by
someone that they feel as if they are caught between fire and rain. Rain and
fire effects are used in this song to give it just the right amount of macabre
chill. "Into my void arrives your nothingàand now the sparks strike behind my
eyes."
Sky Above; Sea Below segues from Fire and Rain with Middle Eastern flavor not
unlike that used by Loreena McKennitt or Dead Can Dance. It is also mixed with
vocal samples that careen out of the void like memories on the wind.
Song Slowly Sung follows immediately where the vocals are reverbed to sound as
if in a darkened church somewhere during an unknown time. More samples of
dialogue are used between various sound effects and drones to give a lamentable
vision and feel. This is unrequited love that has only memory to clutch to their
chest.
Stretched On Your Grave continues with this long segue of songs with backward
sampled dialogue at different speeds. Low drone and wind like effects are used
while an occasional chiming bell plays time with our heart. Here, the vocals are
reflective of Arcana where the song stands on its own in acappella while the
background serves to just provide a mood rather than harmony for the vocalist.
This song takes Bowley to the forefront where his sound is crisp and pure,
unencumbered by the wizardry of microphone effects. This is a song to one
already dead and buried. Love severed through death and all that is left to give
is this song in a lonely churchyard whilst sprawled atop the layers of dirt that
separate the lovers for this time. The song further explores rumination via
medieval style flute that segues from the midst to provide a bittersweet memory.
Had a video been connected to this song, I suspect it would have been one of
musical history's most heartbreaking to watch.
Rooms Above The Sea continues to capture the mournful essence with a segue that
uses more church like tones and is sampled with the cries of whales. Bowley's
vocals are pushed further into the background like a faded memory, allowing the
music and the whale sounds a more prominent position. This eerie tune could also
be a commentary about our sea creatures captured and stuck in "rooms above the
sea." The ending provides samples of birds chirping which leads into the next
song yet again.
Breath Upon New Eyes darkly intones and subtly brings us back to the Goth minor
chords. This song then kicks into overdrive, pelting with an erotic middle
eastern flavored percussion that should have been on every compilation in this
genre. This band really extols their talents to the fullest when incorporating
this type of rhythm.
Just Like Water; You Run From My Eyes is the hardest goth rock song on this
selection. Bowley and company once again pull out the stops with the nuances of
background sound effects and catchy refrains. This song heavily showcases the
band's ability to undertake any format and create it as a signature piece.
Eden successfully mastered pulling at the heartstrings and lulling us into many
mood settings with the release of Fire and Rain. It is an impressive body of
work that should lend many fans in this genre a happy medium from which to build
their musical library. Rather than incorporating anything trite, Eden used
everything at their disposal from sound effects to subtle changes in rhythm.
They truly excel with middle eastern flavored sounds, yet the more contemplative
pieces reminded one of something out of "The Crow" soundtrack. This band
demonstrated that they should not be categorized for any one sound that is
prevalent within the Gothic movement, as they have mastered them all and are
willing to display them for us. If you are looking for a band that doesn't use
the same sounds repeatedly, then Eden should be investigated. Considering that
this disc was made in 1994/95, this band created a sound that has longevity. It
still plays fresh today, and I will venture that it will still sound fresh 10
years from now.