Verdandi - The North Country
ARTIST........: Verdandi
TITLE.........: The North Country
LABEL.........: Fremdheit
URL...........: http://www.myspace.com/verdandi
GENRE.........: Folk
QUALITY:......: 162 kbps avg/ 44100Hz / Joint Stereo
RIP DATE......: 2006-05-07
RELEASE DATE..: 2006-05-08
Tracklist:
----------
01. The Daughters Of Ran 5:59
02. Freyja Dark And Bright 4:02
03. Weland Worked Long 4:15
04. Lullay 4:04
05. Wolf In The Sky 6:16
06. The Oak And The Ash 4:18
07. Loki The Fool 3:28
08. Barri 5:50
09. Hymn To Tyr 3:22
10. Bold Asa Thor 4:25
Total 45:59
Release Notes:
Verdandi, the musical collaboration of Alice Karlsd≤ttir and Paul Fredric, came
into being in autumn 2003. Author of "Magic of the Norse Goddesses" (Runa- Raven
Press), A Master in the Rune-Gild and long-time student of Norse folklore and
mythology and magic, Karlsd≤ttir had formerly sung traditional and original folk
music live until Ian Read asked her to record the track, "Lady of the Vanir,"
for the album Birdking by Fire + Ice. That experience encouraged her to embark
on her own project, which was set on the path to manifestation when she was
introduced to Paul Fredric, known for his work with the Esoteric Darkwave
project Asmodeus X. The two found an immediate musical rapport, and began
formulating the materials that would become the Neo-Folk work known as The North
Country. ***************************************************************
Verdandi comes from the name of one of the three Norns, female Germanic figures
of might often equated with the Fates. The ancient Germanic concept of time
included only two concepts--the Past and the Present, a reality that is even now
reflected in the Germanic languages. The Past, Ur≡ (what has become) was real
and vast, the accumulation of all the deeds of all beings throughout time; it
was real because it had already happened, and it continually reached into the
Present to influence current events. The future, Skuld (that which should
become) was a hazy, indefinite concept, unreal because it had not yet happened
and might be turned from its course at any moment by events in the Present. It
was only in the present--Ver≡andi (that which is becoming), that cutting edge on
the blade of reality, that change could happen, that deeds could matter, that
one could shape one's destiny and add to the storehouse of the Past.
**************************************************************** The North
Country, now available through Tesco-Germany, derives much inspiration from the
mythology and traditions of the past; some of the songs are original, some taken
from traditional folk music, and even a reworking of an Asmodeus X song - the
apocalyptic 'Wolf in the Sky'. Together, they look toward a world of wholeness
and tradition. Yet this past is not something far away that is over and done
with, but is rather the mythic past of the beginning time, that place of might
and magic where the worlds were first created and where they can still be
created anew. Acoustic and ambient soundscapes converge forming a background for
Karlsdottirs haunting and melodic lyrics. With special guest appearances by Ian
Read (Fire and Ice), Anabel Lee (Blood Axis), Jim Chisholm (Ring of Troth),
Spike the Percussionist (Astrogenic Hallucinauting), and Johnathan Kramm
(Industrial Orchestra)