Lunar Aurora - Of Stargates and Bloodstained Celestial Spheres

Band/artist - Lunar Aurora
Genre(s) - Black metal
Origin - Germany (Rosenheim, Bayern)
Album - Of Stargates and Bloodstained Celestial Spheres
Year of release - 1999

Though Andacht is of course their crowning work, when I decided to post some more material of my very favourite black metal band I wanted to bring a less well-known album to your collective attention. Of Stagates... is the third out of eight albums of Lunar Aurora, released in 1999, and it is clear that the band had not found their trademark sound just yet: it's not as immersive, haunting or intense as their later music would be and sounds comparatively "regular", but all the rudiments are already there. Together with its follow-up Ars Moriendi, I think this release is somewhat of a transitional phase in the bands career, moving away from the Emperor-emulating symphonic sound of their first albums, towards the more subtle, eerie atmospherics they are now known for. Comparing this to later work I may not have made it sound so attractive, but trust me, this is a mighty fine album.

1. Kampfork (Battle-orc)
   
2. Schwarzer Engel (Black angel)
   
3. Die quelle im Wald (The well in the forest)
   
4. Blutbaum (Blood tree)
   
5. Moorleiche (Bog body)
   
6. Drachenfeuer (Dragonfire)
   
7. Gebigsmystizismus (Mountainous mysticism)
   
8. Verwesung (Decay)
   
9. Weltengänger (Travellers of worlds)
   
10. Child of the apocalypse
    
11. Der leidensweg (The path of suffering)
    
12. Sternenblut (Starblood)
    
13. Something has died forever...
    

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Eine Welt zu gewinnen

Okay, I've finally been able to post some stuff again from my parents' place. Funny thing is, at my own place I have had about ten albums lined up to be uploaded to mediafire for weeks now, but my internet there is still dead - in fact, I think I made it even worse. :( I think it may be due to the fact that the previous tenant of my room was still paying for the tv and internet connection, but I'm not sure.

I'll try to have it fixed in time to post a few of them albums, because in two weeks (maybe even just one) I'll again be housed far, far away (Brabant is a whole different province, you know) for more digging at another excavation, this time for four or five weeks. No instaweb, except maybe in the weekends. It's a tad sucky having to spend your whole summer holiday working and doing unpaid work experience full-time.

I'm still thinking about something I might try after posting those albums, namely making mixtape-like compilations of only the awesomest songs that I know. It would be a bit fairer to the artists involved, but I would miss writing those little album reviews. Let me know what you would prefer.

Cheers,

Bart / Charles D.

The Changelings - Amphibian

Band/artist - The Changelings
Genre(s) - Ethereal, neoclassical
Origin - United States of America (Atlanta, Georgia)
Album - Amphibian
Year of release - 1998

Here we have something unique and beautiful. The Changelings are a rather obscure ethereal band who have remained largely unsigned - i.e. you might call it über-indie - but managed to release four awesome full-lengths by themselves. I think it may not be quite everybody's cup of tea as this is in many ways stranger and less accessible than most other ethereal. It is driven by drums and percussion, violin and a myriad of unusual, antique and Eastern instruments including hammered dulcimer, musical saw, sitar and a toy accordeon(?). Regeana's voice and some of the electronic effects over the music, like on Maelcum's Rigteous Dub may also take some time to get used to but make the distant, drifting atmosphere complete. This is great music to accompany you on stoned nocturnal wanderings around town. Favourite songs of mine are Port Royale, a pirate song, Frog Song with its whirling melodies and the beautiful Oceana. http://www.changelings.com

1. Deeper than light
2. Melusine
3. Mealcum's rigteous dub
4. Caterwaul
5. Another dead girl
6. Frog song
7. Afternoon of a newt (crap. I don't have this track :/)
   
8. Port Royale
9. Carpathian lullaby
10. Oceana (the mermaid song)
11. Morning's twilight
    

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Aluk Todolo - Aluk Todolo

Band/artist - Aluk Todolo
Genre(s) - Occult/psychedelic rock
Origin - France
Album - Aluk Todolo EP
Year of release - 2006

Now I know I described this as psychedelic rock, but if you're expecting something along the lines of Pink Floyd or the Grateful Dead, you're in for a big shock. Aluk Todolo builds from a format of improvised droning (post-)rock to create a delirious, pounding haze of sound with such a cold and ritual undertone that it might as well have wafted hither from Lovecraftian realms of diabolical cults and unspeakable ceremonies, etc. etc. Point is, this brings to mind a procession of flagellants, skin in bloody tatters, mouth foaming in ecstatic worship, rather than an acid-fueled foray into space. Be warned.

1. Side A
2. Side B
   

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