8.05.2008
The Wild Hunt's Music Picks!
It has been awhile since I discussed music here, so I thought I would provide some capsule reviews of recently released music that sings to the Pagan soul (or at least my Pagan soul). All of these artists can be heard on my weekly A Darker Shade of Pagan podcast, and are easily obtainable through mail-order or digital download.
Falling You - "Faith"John Zorko and his rotating band of "magicians" have created yet another magnificent collection of haunting ethereal soundscapes enhanced by masterful female vocals. This album, like previous Falling You efforts, explores a common theme as expressed through a variety of guest vocalists including Suzanne Perry, Amanda Kramer, and Dru Allen (among others). While "Faith" and Falling You's previous albums may engender admiration from the New Age music scene, don't let that fool you. These compositions are dynamic, engaging, and deeply moving. You can purchase a digital copy of "Faith" from Magnatune for a sliding scale charge of $5-$18 dollars. Physical copies will be available later this month through a variety of online distributors (CD Baby, Amazon).
Incus - "Fire and Bone"While Incus has always evoked the word "tribal" when discussing the band's sound, it hardly seems adequate in discussing the festival-touring juggernaut (including stops at Starwood and the Pagan Spirit Festival) this ever-evolving group of individuals, lead by singer and composer Jason Cohen, has become. As a result, "Fire and Bone", unlike their previous release "Burning Thread", seems to carry the aspirations of a group trying to capture the magic of its hard-won live energy. At times this is successful, like on the energetic opening cut "Claudia Always Eyes", or the slow burn into Russian folk-jam of "Weight (Wait)". However, elsewhere, this album strikes me as transitional, with some missteps keeping the album from eliciting an unreserved endorsement. "Fire and Bone" is a snapshot of an evolving band that hasn't quite captured its lightning in a bottle. This album hasn't been released yet, though you should be able to order it from CD Baby soon.
Sharron Kraus - "The Fox's Wedding"Fans of pastoral British folk are in for a treat. Sharron Kraus, who has been generating buzz for some time now among fans of darkly-inflected folk music, delivers a masterwork that is both mythic and deeply personal. There isn't a weak track to be found here, all the songs seem to lead you towards an ever-shifting seasonal journey that reminds you how deeply personal turning the wheel can truly be. That sacrifice and rebirth are simultaneously inside and outside of us. For fans of "The Wicker Man" soundtrack, surely, but also for those wondering who is envisioning the future of folk music. Wonderful. You can buy a digitial version of "The Fox's Wedding" at Amazon, or order a physical copy from Jnana Records (or Amazon).
Silver Summit - "Silver Summit"A heady mix of psychedelic folk and mysticism, Silver Summit's debut album is an ode to what lays beyond. The album plays like an initiatory journey to the otherworld, from the opening chimes of "Music In the Afterlife", to the breathy chant-like "In-Between Place" (appropriately placed near the the middle of the album) to somber and spooky closer "The Bridge". You are left feeling changed and deeper entwined in mystery than before you started. It is little wonder that other reviewers are describing Silver Summit as "bewitched", "a collision of heaven and earth, fire and water", or for "sonic voyagers seeking to ascend to the next level." You can buy a digital copy of "Silver Summit" from Amazon, or you can order a physical copy through Drag City/Language of Stone.
Other picks:
Fern Knight - "Fern Knight" - A mix of folk, prog, and classical elements that serves as "an ode to all things green and living", and showcases the amazing songwriting abilities of Margaret Wienk. [Purchase]
Lux Interna - [a lantern carried in blood and skin] - A retrospective collection of haunting neo-folk that explores a Gnostic band finding the "inner light" in a world of illusions. [Purchase]
Pamela Wyn Shannon - "Courting Autumn": A psych/pastoral-folk exploration of the waning year that highlights a shining musical talent. [Purchase]
Labels: A Darker Shade of Pagan, music, Paganism, review
7.15.2008
Two Pagan-Friendly Music Sources Close
This past few weeks has seen announcements from two Pagan-friendly music labels/distributors that they are closing up shop. First, at the end of June, the online folk music resource Woven Wheat Whispers called it quits.
"We didn’t have to close WWW, it was paying it’s way and no money was lost. It was just a decision about the future taken calmly at a point where we had time to think… It was meant to be fun and would have turned into slog at some point in the near future ... We could have continued and would have done alright, but with Myspace starting to sell downloads, Amazon coming in and iTunes level of market dominance, there was little point. Even CDBaby now sell downloads alongside the CD. Exiting in a positive way seemed the best thing to do at the right time. WWW didn’t collapse, we have all the money needed. It was a decision taken about how far to push what was a small home operation delivered in my spare time."
I mentioned Woven Wheat Whispers on this blog last year when they released (with Cold Spring Records) the amazing "John Barleycorn Reborn" compilation. Woven Wheat Whispers introduced me to some great artists, including The Owl Service, Cunnan, Arrowwood, Novemthree, Sharron Kraus, and The Horses of The Gods. It at times felt like the label/service was especially created for fans of The Wicker Man soundtrack (a high compliment in my book). Needless to say, WWW artists got, and continue to get, at lot of airplay on my podcast/streaming radio show.
Meanwhile, just yesterday, Dancing Ferret/Noir Records founder Patrick Rodgers announced that his popular goth/darkwave label would be closing down in November.
"After November, Dancing Ferret Discs (and Noir Records) will stop releasing new material. Of course this does NOT mean that our wonderful artists are hanging up their hats, nor that their albums will disappear. It also does NOT mean that anything will happen to Nocturne, Dracula's Ball, Digital Ferret or IsoTank. It simply means that in the future, new albums by the DFD bands that you love will be released by other labels (or in some cases, by the artists themselves)."
DFD/Noir, aside from representing popular darkwave acts like The Cruxshadows, also introduced America to great European neo-medieval, ethereal, Pagan-folk, and darkwave bands like Corvus Corax, Irfan, The Dreamside, Faun, and Omnia.
Both of these labels/services have been instrumental in helping to expand the idea of a "Pagan music" beyond the New Age mediocrities and sub-par folk that many assumed was the norm. It showed that there were new generations of musicians across America, the UK, and Europe, that were making challenging and exciting music that dealt with themes near and dear to the Pagan soul. To say that the exit of Woven Wheat Whispers and Dancing Ferret/Noir leaves a hole is an understatement. So I raise my glass in toast to both of them, they have enriched us more than most will ever know.
You can expect tributes to both Woven Wheat Whispers and Dancing Ferret/Noir in upcoming episodes of my A Darker Shade of Pagan podcast.
Labels: A Darker Shade of Pagan, Dancing Ferret/Noir, folklore, goth, John Barleycorn Reborn, music, Paganism, The Wicker Man, UK, Woven Wheat Whispers
7.09.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
We start off in Central Asia where the government of Tajikistan has banned "witchcraft" and all forms of divination at the behest of President Emomali Rakhmon. A move done supposedly for the benefit of the poor in the former Soviet-controlled country.
"The law’s sponsors said that their purpose was threefold: to eliminate a drain on the poverty-stricken population’s finances, to crack down on “un-Islamic” activity and to reduce the number of people practicing medicine without a license — since the fortunetellers often also prescribe folk remedies."
The problem is that fortune-telling is a popular profession among the very poor they hope to protect, and Tajikistan, while being Islamic, is drenched in mysticism.
"Belief in spells, soothsaying and the paranormal is widespread throughout the former Soviet sphere, where suppression of religion under Communism led to a search for other forms of spirituality ... A mystic, almost pagan, tradition also runs deep here, though the country is primarily Sunni Muslim. Mullahs in the high Pamir Mountains, which dominate the country, are believed to have extra powers to discern the future, and they are often sought out for their powers of prophecy. A good fortuneteller is considered a prize, and word circulates quickly if one is perceived to be particularly gifted."
Will this be an unenforceable law? Or will government forces try to actively suppress “un-Islamic” activity by arresting women trying to scratch out a living in the economically depressed country. We'll have to wait and see.
Author Erik Davis profiles the Heathen Metal of the Bindrune Recordings label.
"I’ve sifted through a fair amount of gothic ambient music, forest metal, and dark folk looking for this sort of sepulchral traditionalism, this sense of ancient mysteries seeping up like clammy moisture through the moss underfoot, and most of it is as corny as clove cigarettes and black nail polish. In contrast, Celestiial’s haunting and glacial Desolate North album made me feel like I was alone and paddling into a dark fjord toward some ancient whale cemetery that was way spookier than the one I vaguely remember from that Disney movie I saw as a kid. I finish listening to this record feeling cold and clean."
For those wanting an audio sample of the bands Davis discusses, head over to Bindrune's MySpace page.
A variety of (mostly conservative) Christians are teaming up and using journalism to criticize the theology of Oprah Winfrey.
"Oprah Winfrey has become a catalyst for a new journalistic project and increasing news coverage by conservative Christians questioning and criticizing her spiritual beliefs."
While this in of itself isn't surprising, I did find the comments of religion writer Marcia Nelson, who authored a book on Oprah's beliefs, interesting. Nelson contends that Oprah isn't "New Age", but a "New Thought" Christian.
"Nelson, who studied a year of Winfrey's shows, differs with those who call Winfrey's spiritual ideas "New Age." She says Winfrey would be more related to the "New Thought" movement, which is more mainstream, focusing on positive thinking as a spiritual tool rather than crystals, for example. "I absolutely regard her as a Christian but ... she's one of those capacious Christians," Nelson said."
New Thought is indeed a separate strain of belief(s) from New Age, though the differences can seem somewhat arbitrary and esoteric to the outsider looking in, and the two subcultures overlap in many places, making distinctions somewhat hard to make.
Drexel University's online publication The Smart Set features what I suppose one could call "travel writing" by Steven Wells (the punk poet formerly known as "Susan Williams"). In "Let the Sunshine In", Wells writes about a visit to Glastonbury Tor, and substitutes mean-spirited mocking cynicism for cleverness.
"All over the Anglophone world, witches and druids will be conducting (or already have conducted) similar ceremonies, despite the fact the last real druids were exterminated by the Romans in A.D. 60. And that far from being an authentic ancient tradition, Western witchcraft (or Wicca) was invented from scratch by an outrageous liar in England in 1946. And the rest of this New Age menagerie has equally sketchy and recent roots — most of them right here, in the probably non-existent King Arthur’s sacred Glastonbury, where Jesus’ uncle, Joseph of Arimathea, almost certainly didn’t hide the Holy Grail (but there are plenty who reckon he did). Mohammed and Joseph Smith and L. Ron Hubbard have nothing on the New Age ningnangnongers. Not that I think that matters. I’m guessing the original druids and witches kinda made it up as they went along as well."
For Pagans, this isn't anything you haven't heard before. Though if your looking for a low-rent H.L. Mencken to amuse you for a few minutes, I suppose Wells might be your man.
In a final note, I have a couple of pieces of book-related news. First, two Llewellyn titles have won awards from a trade organization I've never heard of until today.
"Two Llewellyn titles, The Temple of High Witchcraft by Christopher Penczak and Natural Witchery by Ellen Dugan, have been awarded prestigious awards from the Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR), with several other Llewellyn titles being noted as award finalists ... COVR is an organization formed by a unique group of businesses that deal in "Visionary Resources," and who work with and support each other as independent retailers, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and publishers of visionary books, music, and merchandise."
Congratulations to Llewellyn, if you say the COVR awards are prestigious, I'll take your word on it. Secondly, calling all horned-god fanatics, Avalonia Books announces the forthcoming release of "Horns of Power, Manifestations of the Horned God".
"This anthology is the first of its kind to be focussed on the horned gods of our ancestors and includes both scholarly essays, bardic retellings of stories such as that of Herne the Hunter and a number of experiential essays. Invocations and meditation journeys are also included."
Sounds interesting! But then we here at The Wild Hunt are a little biased. For a similar Pagan anthology of note, be sure to also check out "Written in Wine", an anthology of writings concerning Dionysos.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: books, Christianity, Erik Davis, Glastonbury, law, music, New Age, Oprah, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, psychics, Tajikistan, UK
6.08.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
Both The Times and The Independent review the new book "Stonehenge" by Rosemary Hill, which explores the social history and differing perceptions of this famous ancient monument.
"A great strength of Hill's method is that she is by no means inclined just to laugh at what seem ludicrous beliefs. She carefully unpicks them, showing what made them attractive in their cultures, and how scholarly their adherents often were, apart from their brief descent into Stonehenge madness."
You can read an excerpt of the work, here. Hill's "Stonehenge" looks like a worthy new tome exploring this ever-popular monument (including modern Pagan interactions with Stonehenge). Release date in the UK is June 10th, and in America on November 15th.
Looking for Pagan music but aren't a fan of folk music, neo-medieval stylings, or darkwave? Then you might want to check out the latest offering from Jazz musician Jordi Rossy. His trio's new album is entitled "Wicca", and according to All About Jazz, it's "mesmerizing".
"Wicca is a largely ruminative album, Rossy somewhere on the piano spectrum between George Winston and his sometimes employer Mehldau ... Whether the piano is in the lead, organ droning behind, or organ leads, in churchy mode, with piano chords underneath, that sound is consistent and, at its best, mesmerizing. A comfort zone is established and observed, only breached noticeably on the title track, the CD's longest, adding trumpet and tenor sax and combining disparate elements of tempo and form into an intricate yet harmonious texture."
You can order the album from this web site.
Your Christian scare-mongering link of the week: beware of horoscopes (and palmistry, and Ouija boards).
"Just like the Ouija board, the horoscope can also be dangerous—a dangerous first step into the world of the occult. One woman, Barbara Gardner, writing in Today’s Christian Woman, explained how reading horoscopes sucked her into a dangerous pattern that led to astral projection—also known as “out of body experience”—palm reading, and fortune-telling. She ultimately attributed the breakup of two of her marriages to her obsession with occult activity."
Back! Back Rob Brezsny! Back into the pits of Hell with you and your ilk! Also, beware of "slutty" mermaids selling you coffee!
Are Pagans considered a part of the "religious left"? Pew Forum Senior Fellow in Religion and American Politics John Green seems to hint that we could be, if we wanted to.
"Attention has largely been focused on various kinds of Christians who hold these views, but it is important to remember that these groups extend to non-Christians as well, including believers in the Jewish community and people who are “spiritual but not religious.” There are progressive voices appearing in nearly every religious tradition."
Of course if Christians like Jim Wallis, who is regularly misrepresented as a liberal, get their way the "big tent" of the "religious left" wouldn't openly include the Pagans and other non-monotheistic outsiders that could embarrass him or moderate Democrats trying to win over "values voters".
Press profiling Pagans round-up! The Sault Star talks to author and Pagan Elizabeth Creith about her involvement in "flash fiction" and other artistic projects, Pennsylvania publication Voices talks to Art Shipkowski, a member of Ár nDraíocht Féin, at a Penn. State Pagan gathering, and The Shreveport Times talks to a Pagan husband and wife who run a local tattoo parlor called the Twisted Cauldron.
"The Clementses say opening Twisted Cauldron "is a 10-year dream." Knowing the previous tenants, Modern Primitives, B.J. said, the opportunity popped up and he jumped on it. "There isn't really a shop like this in the area, and privacy is a big issue," B.J. Clements said. "A lot of our success has to do with how we treat our customers," B.J. Clements said, adding one of the tenets of their Wiccan faith is "May you never hunger, May you never thirst." "I do commerce with all sorts of religions and denominations; it generally isn't an issue," he said of being Wiccan."
Did you get profiled recently in your local paper? Why not drop me a line! You too could be mentioned in my semi-regular round-up of Pagan press profiles.
In a final note, should you buy a Pan Flute? The answer may surprise you.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: Astrology, books, Christianity, journalism, music, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Religious Left, Rosemary Hill, Stonehenge
3.17.2008
How many songs can you write about Pan?
Play Louder reviews a recent concert by veteran Pagan goth-rockers Inkubus Sukkubus, and asks some essential questions.
Inkubus Sukkubus
"Finding them to be an unlikely but consistent pop-goth songwriting machine and completely and utterly stuck in a time warp of their own invention, I found there to be something incredibly endearing about Inkubus Sukkubus. How many songs can you write about Pan, the injustices of the Catholic church, and seasonal pagan festivals? Well, the answer, fortunately, is sh**loads..."
Despite being stuck in an "endearing time warp", the band manages to win over the reviewer, not to mention their legions of loyal fans.
"...one can't help but feel a tremendous attachment to them, and respect for them. They're the rebellious aunt and uncle I never had. They've invented their own reality, and reached a modest number of people in a lot of places in a way that no other band could. From the big beardy old men to the leather-clad, off-the-rails cyber goth girls (both equally intimidating), there's nobody not willing to raise their devil horns in salute and chant 'Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna...' till they're hoarse."
If that rousing endorsement has peaked your interest, you can download a variety of Inkubus Sukkubus songs at their SoundClick page. Maybe you too can be won over by the world's most famous Pagan band.
Labels: Inkubus Sukkubus, music, Paganism
11.25.2007
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
If you have ever read any of Alan Moore's occult-tinged comics and wondered if he would ever come through on his promise to write a grimoire of his own, wonder no longer! Top Shelf Publishers have posted promotional information concerning Moore's forthcoming book on magickal theory.
"Splendid news for boys and girls, and guaranteed salvation for humanity! Messrs. Steve and Alan Moore, current proprietors of the celebrated Moon & Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels (sorcery by appointment since circa 150 AD) are presently engaged in producing a clear and practical grimoire of the occult sciences that offers endless necromantic fun for all the family. Exquisitely illuminated by a host of adepts including Kevin O'Neill, Melinda Gebbie, John Coulthart, Jose Villarrubia and other stellar talents (to be named shortly), this marvelous and unprecedented tome promises to provide all that the reader could conceivably need in order to commence a fulfilling new career as a diabolist."
The bad news? It isn't scheduled for release until 2010. In the meantime you'll have to content yourself with the recently released "The Black Dossier", which features all sorts of occult tidbits for the careful reader.
The Tropaion blog has dug up a well-regarded History Channel documentary about the ancient Greek gods and goddesses on Google Video.
"History Channel once again had produced a remarkable documentary presenting the ancient Greek gods and heroes. The narrator will guide you with an extreme sense of respect towards the Hellenic religion's believes and practices giving you just the recorded facts and letting eminent Classicists from US' Universities to add their opinion. It is, thus, this combination that makes this documentary a classic work on the ancient Greek gods and their most eminent rites and rituals in the Hellenic world."
You can find a direct link to the video, here.
The Religion Clause blog is documenting "War on Christmas" skirmishes so you don't have to. Of particular interest is a legal showdown brewing in Menominee, Michigan, where an atheist group is unhappy about the erection of a nativity scene in a public park.
"The co-president of Freedom From Religion Foundation, based in Madison, Wis., said in a Nov. 15 letter that the display would violate the separation of church and state. "It is unlawful for the city of Menominee to maintain, erect or host a display that consists solely of a Nativity scene, thus singling out, showing preference for and endorsing one religion, and commemorating its most holy day," Annie Laurie Gaylor wrote to Menominee city manager Eric Strahl."
The city of Menominee is trying to legally protect itself by having a provision stating that "non-Christians be allowed to add their symbols". I can only hope that this means an enterprising Pagan group or two are getting public displays ready to sit next to the nativity scene. What about a baby Mithras? A mini-temple to Saturn? How about a Yule Goat? Lets get creative here!
It isn't the holiday season without a visit from the ghost of Satanic Panic's past. A strange case involving a mayor in a small Arkansas town who claimed he was kidnapped by Satanists and brainwashed into his current identity made the national news recently. To make sense of it all, Bartholomew unravels all the "Satanic Panic" connections.
"LaRose claims that he only regained his original identity after being brainwashed when he was given a truth serum by Dr. Marvin DeHaan, brother of the radio evangelist Richard DeHaan. Richard W. DeHaan is the author of Satan, Satanism, and Witchcraft, published in 1972 by Zondervan. The book came out at a time when popular Christian paperbacks on Satanism were in their heyday: a year later, Mike Warnke (with the help of David Balsiger) produced The Satan Seller, a now thoroughly-debunked memoir of life as a Satanist. The momentum from books like these eventually led to the "Satanic panic" of the 1980s."
Looks like Satanists aren't just good for selling pulpy Christian books, they can also help you start a new life when things get rough. Is there anything imaginary Satanists can't do?
In a final note, check out esoteric author Erik Davis' write-up of "hard-core, shamanic, eco-metal" band Wolves in the Throne Room for Slate.com.
"The contours of this myth echo what my chat with the band after the Santa Cruz show confirmed: Wolves in the Throne Room are hard-core tree-huggers, with a Manichaean view of the environmental crisis and a pagan faith in the transformative powers of nature."
You can also read a (somewhat) longer commentary by me on this story at my music blog "A Sweeping Curve of Sound".
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: Alan Moore, Comics, Erik Davis, Greece, Magick, music, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Satanic Panic, War on Christmas
11.24.2007
A Gift-Guide For the Pagan in Your Life (Part 2)
Continued from yesterday, this is a round-up of gift suggestions for the Pagan or Heathen in your life. Just in time for all the Winter Festivals!
Video: There are plenty of good choices out on DVD right now for the polytheisticly inclined. With a wide range to please even the most picky Pagan. We'll Start with a favorite of mine, "Robin of Sherwood". This British television series from the 1980s, featuring a Pagan Robin Hood, is a cult favorite and has been repackaged this year at a lower price (you had to pay import prices before). The show is packaged into two sets, split by who was playing Robin Hood at the time. Another television series that is quickly becoming a favorite among Pagans is HBO's "Rome". This epic show with a huge budget (which ultimately became its downfall) featured one of the most realistic portrayals of religion during the Roman empire (even if the history itself was quite off at times). The previous price-points for seasons one and two had been quite high, but Amazon has slashed prices by 60%, making their purchase far easier.
Turning from television shows to movies, the obvious first choice for the Pagan cinefile would be the two-disc platinum edition of Guillermo del Toro's masterful "Pan's Labyrinth". A dark fairy-tale with no filters, it is sure to shock (and delight) anyone looking for a quality film (read my review). Being that I'm a huge fan of "The Wicker Man", I recommend getting a copy for your Pagan loved one (if they don't already own one), just be sure it includes the superior "extended cut", not just the garbled theatrical release. Other films worth looking into are "Beowulf & Grendel" (especially if you prefer a live-action Beowulf to a rubbery CGI creation), the excellent documentary "Ile Aiye (The House of Life)" (a David Byrne-directed film about Candomble), and the surprisingly decent documentary about Aleister Crowley entitled "In Search of the Great Beast: 666".
Finally, for the Pagan who has everything, give them the gift of the worst Pagan-themed movie ever made. The re-make of "The Wicker Man" starring Nicolas Cage. Snag an used "unrated" version for just over a dollar, then head over to RiffTrax and purchase an audio accompaniment produced by Mike Nelson of MST3K fame. Then sit back and watch the best (unintentional) Pagan comedy ever produced.
Music: This has been a great year for Pagan music, and since many Pagans are huge music fans it should be easier than ever to stuff their stockings with quality releases from the past year. For the Hellenist in your life (or anyone who enjoys amazing music inspired by Greek antiquity), check out Daemonia Nymphe's "Krataia Asterope". If you prefer something a little more Eastern-European in scope, The Moon and The NightSpirit's "Rego Rejtem" (from Hungary) is an energetic folksy tribute to the old gods. Looking for something a bit more universal in scope? Monica Richards' "InfraWarrior" is everything you could hope for in a Pagan-friendly record, while Italy's Ataraxia explores a Robert Graves-ian vision of Pagan initiation in "Kremasta Nera". The Netherlands' own Omnia brings more "Pagan folk" on "Alive!", while their friends in Faun produce a more ethereal and haunting sound on "Totem".
Finally, for the more rock-oriented, the font of modern Pagan rock Inkubus Sukkubus has a new album out entited "Science and Nature". Ever-consistent (perhaps to a fault), it is sure to please fans of their past albums. For even more music gift-giving ideas check out my "A Darker Shade of Pagan" site, or my new music blog "A Sweeping Curve of Sound".
I'll end my guide here. I'm not knowledgeable enough in Tarot decks to give proper recommendations, and I'm assuming that everyone knows that candles, and (good) incense are almost always welcome gifts. So good luck with your gift-hunt! As yesterday, I encourage my readers to chime in and give their own gift suggestions.
Labels: gift guide 2007, movies, music, Paganism, Television
8.29.2007
The Music of the Fields
For those interested in Pagan and Pagan-friendly music, Woven Wheat Whispers (a legal folk music downloading service) and Cold Spring Records have recently released a groundbreaking compilation of darker folk music that explores the mythic past of the British Isles entitled "John Barleycorn Reborn".
"We are keen to highlight the authentic, stark aspects of the folk tradition, uncensored by Victorian sensibilities, allowing the harshness of our earlier existence and the rawness of our traditional stories to be expressed. Through this we hope to reveal some of our early history from the pre-Roman era and the archetypes of belief that still resonate today. The existence of the working people in the past was harsh, their toil hard and respite short. Their imaginations were fired by the aural tradition that merged foundation myths, morality tales, historical lore and seasonal celebration. Woven into the pre-Puritan church and the folk celebrations were unexplained traces of primitive British belief that continues today through the folk arts."
While the compilation outright states that it is "totally unrelated" to modern Paganism or occultism, the thematic elements of the songs are right up the alleys of Pagan music connoisseurs.
"...is about evoking the mystery of our ancient past, the strangeness of their beliefs and the remnants of this carrying down the centuries. Folk music is full of seasonal veneration, fertilising sacrifice, symbolic murder, nefarious crime, false accusations of witchcraft, extreme poverty, early death and injustice for the common people. It is interwoven with the myths and iconography of Arthur, Gawain, Beowulf, Druids, Robin Goodfellow, the Green Man, Jack In The Green, animal guising and John Barleycorn."
In addition, the three-disc lineup includes Pagan songwriter Damh the Bard and a variety of Pagan-friendly artists that have seen play on my "A Darker Shade of Pagan" podcast (including Cunnan, Peter Ulrich. and Sieben). To hear samples from the set, check out the MySpace page created for the compilation, or check out the FolkCast interview with curator Mark Coyle which also features songs from "John Barleycorn Reborn". While I haven't gotten a copy for myself yet, it seems like a perfect Samhain gift for the music-loving Witch, Druid, Heathen, or fan of "The Wicker Man" soundtrack in your family.
Labels: A Darker Shade of Pagan, John Barleycorn Reborn, music, Paganism, The Wicker Man, UK, Woven Wheat Whispers
8.22.2007
Crowley Was Once On His List
Pitchfork Media interviews pop-star and soul singer Daryl Hall (of Hall and Oates) about his career, his past interest in Aleister Crowley, his collaborations with a Gurdjieff-trained Robert Fripp, and the witches in his family tree.
Daryl Hall in younger days.
"I come from a family of ministers. And my great-grandfather was what they used to call in Pennsylvania a "pow-wow man," which is basically a male witch. It goes back to the old Germanic and English things -it's like the evil eye, keeping the crops from getting the blight, and the cows from getting sick, and all that stuff. It's just old, old folky things. He was a healer, he used to heal people's warts and give them all kinds of potions and all that kind of stuff. He also had an evil side. And I heard some stories about him. [laughs] I never knew him, but I heard lots of stories about him ... I see what musicians do, especially singers, as a primal thing. It comes from howling around the campfire. Everybody was sitting around whatever, in the earliest of early times-- pre-literate times, how's that? Pre-conscious times. And pre-sentient times. And somebody would be the guy that would start the howling. And that's what I do."
As for his interest in the teachings in Aleister Crowley, Hall says his "Crowley phase" is well behind him now.
"A lot of people go through that kind of thing. And I went through it, and I retained a lot of it, and I discarded a lot of it. My life was unbalanced at the time, when I was doing that."
Sadly the interviewer doesn't do much follow-up on Hall's current religious/philosophical beliefs. Considering his past interest in Crowley, and his family tree (not to mention his singing ability), I'm sure most Witchcraft traditions would recruit him in a heartbeat!
Labels: Aleister Crowley, Daryl Hall, music, Pitchfork Media, Witchcraft
7.06.2007
John Zorn's Occult Genius
John Zorn, an experimental jazz composer and recent winner of a MacArthur "genius grant", has his most recent release "From Silence to Sorcery" reviewed by All About Jazz. The magazine notes that Zorn has focused quite a bit on the occult in his recent works.
"Zorn's recent interest in the occult has been apparent in his chamber music scores. Magick (Tzadik, 2004), Rituals (Tzadik, 2005) and Mysterium (Tzadik, 2005) have all been directly inspired by various occult rituals and traditions. This album is no exception ... The opening piece, "Goetia," is named after a type of black magic used to conjure evil spirits ... The second composition, "Gris-Gris" is inspired by Haitian Voodoo rituals and Korean Shamanism."
Also of note in Zorn's recent discography is "Moonchild: Songs Without Words" (featuring vocal contributions by Mike Patton), which deals heavily with Aleister Crowley and Thelema. This recent focus makes one wonder if Zorn's interest in the occult is merely academic or if he has embraced magick as a practitioner. It isn't so far-fetched considering the fact that Zorn himself denies being some sort of postmodern ironist.
"I see myself and many artists like me as the torchbearers through these dark ages ... People for the most part see me as a pastiche artist, as an ironist, as this sort of postmodern poster boy. This is not at all what I'm about, and it never has been. I have wit in my work and a sense of humor, but I do not use irony in any way. I'm not interested in pastiche. I put together the influences of my life in as clear a way as I possibly can..."
In another recent interview Zorn admits to "reading a lot of Aleister Crowley", raising the possibility that Zorn is the first MacArthur fellow to publicly admit being an occult practitioner. No doubt the spirit of Graham Bond (and perhaps Crowley himself) is smiling down on this turn of events.
Labels: Aleister Crowley, Jazz, John Zorn, Magick, music, Thelema
7.01.2007
A Darker Shade of Pagan 07/01/07
[I'm still on the road and unable to blog properly, so why not take this opportunity to listen to my weekly Pagan music podcast? Normal blog posting will resume on Monday. You may also enjoy a look at my History of Pagan and Occult Music blog, to which I posted two excerpts of my book in progress this past week.]
A DARKER SHADE OF PAGAN
www.adarkershadeofpagan.com
Pagan sounds from the underground.
Playlist for 07/01/07
[direct download]
[subscribe via iTunes]
[podcast feed]
Kwannon - The Hosting of the Sidhe
Arcanta - Tattvamasi
The Mirror Reveals - Story Tellers
Incus - Rhythm (live)
Trance to the Sun - Thistle Lurid
Faith and The Muse - Mesmerism
Falling You - Varenka
Faith and Disease - Mayim
Brendan Perry - Medusa
The Moors - Guth na Torainn
You can also listen to this show on the Pagan Radio Network!
Labels: A Darker Shade of Pagan, music, Paganism
6.18.2007
Sinead O'Connor and the Christian Market
The ever-controversial Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O'Connor is releasing a new double album entited "Theology". The songs are all biblically-themed (including a cover of the Jesus Christ Superstar song "I Don't Know How to Love Him"), and is being specifically marketed to Christian retail outlets.
"Yet with her soon-to-be-released double album Theology, the Grammy Award-winning O'Connor will make a foray into the mainstream Christian music market by distributing the album in major Christian retail outlets, including Family Christian Stores and Lifeway Christian Stores ... The move, O'Connor says, is not as out of character as it may seem. "By blood and by birth I am a Catholic, and I am extremely inspired by that," she says in a telephone interview from Dublin. "I wanted to acknowledge music as a way of talking to God." But will the Christian market buy it?"
This represents yet another theological shift for the mercurial singer. More than ten years ago she was exploring goddess spirituality, and included the Charge of the Goddess in the liner notes of her 1994 album "Universal Mother", and sang about pre-Christian conceptions of God on her 1997 "Gospel Oak" ep.
"I guess it's called gospel oak because the songs are hymns, really, hymns / lullabies which i dedicated to the idea of God which existed before 'religion', in inverted commas, came along. It was basically the idea of God being a feminine principal, God the mother, which was symbolized by the oak because it's such an ancient, ancient, tradition. Also the worship of God the mother used to take place in what they would call sacred oak groves - so that's basically why."
More recently, O'Connor caused religiously-themed headlines when she accepted ordination into an Irish splinter Catholic organization, and ordination that persists to this day, though she refuses to talk about it to the press.
"Is it a good time to mention her ordination as Mother Bernadette Marie in 1999? 'That area is better for me not to talk about.' Her mouth is set. 'I shouldn't talk about it at all: it's a very private thing.'"
But lest anyone think the singer has truly repented from her theological roamings, recent comments seem to find her as heretical as ever (at least by the standards of the Christian audience she is trying to win over).
"I went to a convent, but I didn't imbibe any of the negative things about Catholicism. The fact there was badness about it didn't stop me from taking on board what was good about it so I'm equally inspired by Catholicism as I am by Hinduism and Sufism and all the other religions which inspire me."
So while O'Connor's new album (you can listen to samples at her MySpace page) tries to win over the Christian market, does she pray to a universal Mother or a stern and jealous Father?
Labels: Christianity, music, Paganism, Sinead O'Connor, The Goddess
6.12.2007
Pagan Blog Notes
Some quick announcements from the Pagan blogosphere.
Sia, from Full Circle Central, points out that there is a new discussion group started for the Gaia's Guardians organization. Who or what are Gaia's Guardians?
"Gaia's Guardians is a loose confederation of professionals and volunteers who work on projects that benefit Mother Earth and her creatures. This is an inter-faith effort & people from all belief systems (or none) are welcome ... This is a networking group for those who are already actively engaged in this sort of work. If you are new to community service, and wish to get involved, either visit Volunteer Match or write to Full Circle at info@fullcircleevents.org and we'll try our best to hook you up with local efforts you can support."
You can learn more about this group's activities and history, here.
A soon to be launched web site called The Pagan Quill, promises to shine a spotlight on the best that the Pagan and occult blogosphere has to offer.
"[The Pagan Quill] is a writing project geared toward bringing the best pagan writers to the forefront of the blogging community. Pagan Quill will be a virtual environment where pagan bloggers much like yourself submit their works to be featured on the front page with hopes of getting their names out there, in the spotlight, where they deserve to be."
If you think your writing deserves to be featured, send them an e-mail for submission details. No word on a launch date, but you can read their mission statement, here.
The occult group blog, Key 23, has re-launched as a occult web-zine/blog entitled Key 64 (featuring articles by Lupa, Nick Pell, and Taylor Ellwood). While New Zealand author Caroline Tully has launched a Pagan blog entitled Necropolis Now (with a focus on grave sites and death imagery within paganism).
Finally, I have launched a new blog at www.paganandoccultmusic.com to highlight and promote a new book I am working on. It will be a history of modern Pagan and occult music, hopefully to be published sometime in 2008.
"The ultimate goal of this work is to give the reader a short (yet hopefully informative) history of modern Pagan and occult music. A history that spans a nearly forty year period from the late sixties to the present day, and includes just about every conceivable musical style. We will discuss not only the musicians but also those individuals and groups that provided inspiration along the way. We will discuss the early pioneers of self-consciously Pagan and occult music, and finally, this book will discuss how all of these artists form an essential cultural component to the health and growth of modern Paganism."
The blog will feature reviews, interviews, excerpts from the book in progress, and perhaps some legally released Mp3s for download. If you are interested in all permutations of Pagan music, why not add it to your reading list? You can also subscribe to the blog on Livejournal.
Labels: Caroline Tully, Gaia's Guardians, Key 64, music, occult, Pagan Blogs, Paganism
6.08.2007
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
A correctional officer accused of sexually abusing a girl for six years is in custody, and the police claims the man may have used the Wiccan religion to lure young girls.
"Loren Williamson, 33, was booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail on four counts of sexual conduct with a minor and three counts of child molestation. Police said the abuse started when the victim was 6-years-old and continued until authorities recently got a tip ... Officers said Williamson was involved with the Wiccan religion and may have used its mystical traditions as a way to spark the interest of young girls."
The police are currently trying to figure out if Williamson had any other victims, and are are looking to the public in the Phoenix, Arizona area for any information. You can find contact numbers at the link.
Is it still religious discrimination if you admit to illegal drug use as well? An Ohio custody case brought in as evidence the mother's public MySpace postings that described a lifestyle of Paganism, S&M, and recreational drug-use.
"It had to happen sooner or later. Heedless of the consequences, a parent engaged in a hot custody dispute chatted away on MySpace, revealing her private life as a pagan, bisexual S&M enthusiast and drug-user. She even admitted that she had gone on a drug "hiatus" during her lawsuit, but planned to resume her old ways when the case was over ... Based on the mother's testimony and her MySpace revelations, the Common Pleas judge found her "lifestyle" unsettling for somebody raising a five-year-old, and the guardian ad litem appointed by the court to look after the child's interests concurred, finding she had a better relationship with her father..."
The judge seems to have handled the information with care, saying the mother had every right to her lifestyle, but that the child was better off with the father. I agree that her religion and sexual practices should have no bearing on her perceived fitness as a parent, but admitting to illegal activities is no way to win a custody battle. Also worth noting is that the court ruled that anything you post on MySpace isn't "private", so if you're in litigation be careful what you say to the world.
The Kalamazoo Gazette profiles the Paganstock festival in Bangor, Michigan. Unlike other Pagan summer festivals, Paganstock's entertainment veers away from the traditional folk-and-drumming you'd find elsewhere.
"...a previous performer at Paganstock said: 'This is the only place a pagan can be a pagan.' The speaker was Roy Addams of Portland, Maine's metal band 13 Winters, one of this year's headliners ... Most of the music will be hard rock or metal. 'It seems a lot of pagan festivals in the past have had folk music, very mellow, a softer tone to it. ... There are a lot of artists out there that have a heavier or different sound I'd like to showcase,' Pulka said."
Among the artists you can find at this years Paganstock include the rock/blues artist Dooley Noted, the metal bands 13 Winters, Urn, and With No Remorse, and the all-female rock band Burning Sage. You can find the Paganstock MySpace page, here. Could this be the beginning of Pagan festivals that attempt to appeal to an ever-growing younger Pagan audience?
A small-town newspaper looks at donations to library book sales, and what impressions the volunteers get from the different donations.
"A large number of books about cancer, books about healing, books about spirituality might imply that that book donor had gone through a troubling period in his or her life. "We got in a couple of boxes with tons of books on witchcraft and the Wicca movement," said Ms Marshall. "We wondered if the person had become disillusioned with the whole Wicca thing, or had they just been doing research? The books were tossed in with a bunch of Dr Seuss books, and I thought, 'I'd like to meet that person!'" she said."
Personally, I have done a couple Pagan book-dumps to used book stores, usually stuff I feel I have outgrown, or to make room for even more books.
Disappointed that you didn't get a chance to buy Witch School when it was up for sale? Well, Don Lewis, CEO of the online school, is now offering members the chance to buy stock in the company at only 25 cents per share.
"Shares represent a voice, and we are asking to be allowed to issue a total of ten million shares, though we do not necessarily plan to use all of them. But this allows us a high cap, so individuals who want to open their own licensed campuses, can easily become registered by Witch School International, Inc. ... WSI is an entirely NEW COMPANY. WSI acquired the assets of the former company called Witch School. Now those assets are comprehensive. We are currently in our first round of requesting financing, and are looking for investors. You are receiving this letter because, having already purchased a Lifetime Membership we feel it is likely that you might be interested in investing in the school. During this first round the price will be 25 cents a share, plus a five dollar service charge. There will be no minimum, but there is a maximum of 1 million shares total sold in this first round."
Alongside their Pagan penny stock scheme (for which they say they need to be extremely legit since they face discrimination "from within as well as without"), the school is also forming a relationship with The Grey School of Wizardry (co-founded by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart) and offering "Master Teacher Certifications". Lest I be seen as "discriminating" against the school I'll refrain from comment, though I think Caveat Emptor should apply.
In a final note, the BBC profiles the Spiritualist haven of Cassadaga, central Florida. The reporter finds that what you believe affects what you get out of a visit to the many performing psychics and mediums.
"The experience of Cassadaga seems very much to depend on the beliefs with which you arrive. The people I met who wanted and expected to contact their deceased family members did so and left with those beliefs reinforced. For the skeptical and curious little changed, but just about everybody enjoyed the peace and quiet of a place that feels a million miles away from the attractions of Florida's theme parks."
There seems to be a growing interest in the town, aside from the BBC's report, the indie band Bright Eyes recently released an album that thematically centers around the Spiritualist camp. For more on Cassadaga, check out their web site.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: Cassadaga, custody case, Festival, music, MySpace, Paganism, Spiritualism, Wicca, Witch School, Witchcraft
5.03.2007
Omnia and the European Union
Expatica (a news and information source for expatriates in Europe) has two features up concerning the Pagan band Omnia. First, Paul Morris, the editor for Expatica Belgium, writes about his experiences at an Omnia show with his daughter.
"Omnia do perform some gentle songs that could charm the birds from the branches but others could rock the entire forest herself. Sik (aka Steve) leaps around at times like some excitable Pan unleashed from the woods and transplanted to this other world. From the dizzy heights of his flute to the probing depths of Luka's assorted aboriginal Slideridoos, punctuated by the gentle insistence of Jenny's harp and driven by Joe's rhythmic guitar, it's a fine sound altogether. And for me it just gets better when Jenny takes up the hurdy-gurdy, a wheel fiddle which adds a Gallic quality to certain songs."
Then Morris interviews guitarist Joe Hennon about Omnia and his day-job as an assistant to Margot Wallstrom, Vice President of the European Commission (the executive body of the European Union).
"I'm the only member of Omnia who has another job. I work for the European Commission, in particular for the Vice-President, Margot Wallstrom, who is responsible for communication strategy among other things."
Hennon also shares his views on the dominant monotheisms.
"We've no problem with Christians, Muslims or any other religious people provided they don't try to force their views on everyone else in the world. We just think there are a lot more gods than just one..."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
For more about Omnia, I suggest checking out their MySpace page, or tune into my weekly podcast where Omnia songs often turn up.
4.18.2007
Great New Pagan Music
In addition to this Pagan blog, I'm also a passionate advocate of music created by and for modern Pagans, Heathens, and other fellow travelers. Beyond the pagan-influenced dabbling of artists like Tori Amos and Bjork, there lies a rich underground of musical options for the polytheisticly-inclined. 2007 has been shaping up to be a great year for Pagan music and I thought I would share some recent notable releases.
Faun - "Totem"Released: March 2007 USA/Europe
Building on the strength of their 2005 release "Renaissance", this proudly Pagan band from Germany melds traditional folk elements with atmospheric electronics to create something truly magical. "Totem" is perhaps their most consistent effort yet, with the interweaving male and female vocals, and solid tribal drumming finding a near-perfect balance. Standout tracks include the energetic opening song "Rad" and the near symphonic qualities of "Zeit nach dem Sturm". You can hear and download samples from the new CD at their MySpace page.
The Moon & The Nightspirit - "Rego Rejtem"Released: April 2007 Europe/World
The Moon and the Nightspirit is a talented new duo from Hungary. They released an admirable but uneven CD entitled "Of Dreams Forgotten and Fables Untold" in 2005. Back then I wished they would sing more songs in their native tongue and inject some more energy into their music. It seems that all my wishes were granted because on "Rego Rejtem" (which means "I with conjure magic" in Hungarian) Agnes Toth and Mihaly Szabo de-emphasize ethereal electronics and concentrate on the music and folklore of their native land to create a breathtakingly amazing release. You can listen to samples of the new album at their MySpace page, or you can download the title track, here.
Daemonia Nymphe - "Krataia Asterope"Released: April 2007 Europe/World
This band is a revelation. To quote their own description they are "musicians who compose music based on the aesthetic and theoretical border of Ancient Hellenic Music", and true to form they create new music using ancient concepts, structures, and instruments. These Greek musicians and singers are creating exciting music for celebration and liturgy. But they aren't mere archivists or anachronists, they bring a modern passion to what they do that is palpable. Check out samples from the new CD, here (also be sure to check out their Myspace page).
Ataraxia - "Kremasta Nera"Released: April 2007 Europe/World
It is difficult to summarize Ataraxia. This Italian darkwave band is fronted by the enigmatic Francesca Nicoli, who has a voice that will either transfix you or drive you mad (or perhaps both). Much of their work concerns the mythical and the legendary, and this new release is no exception. "Kremasta Nera" is a song cycle that explores a Gravesian vision of the White Goddess and nine initiation rituals that take place on the island of Samothrace. It truly has to be sampled to be judged, so I point you to the lyrics for the project, a web presentation, and sound samples.
Monica Richards - "InfraWarrior"Released: Nov. '06 Europe / May '07 USA
While technically not a Pagan (though there is some debate on the issue), Monica Richards (half of the goth band Faith and The Muse) has had Pagan admirers for some time now. Perhaps that interaction has had some effect because "InfraWarrior" is a deeply pagan album. A forceful declaration and exploration of eco-spirituality, female empowerment, and mythic themes. A mix of dance-floor ready anthems and mediative nearly spoken-word pieces that literally floors you with the clearness and quality of its vision. Highly recommended. Check out Monica Richard's MySpace page for sound samples.
These are only some of the amazing bands in Europe and America that are redefining modern Pagan music for a new era. If all goes well I'll try to make this a semi-regular feature as more new releases come my way. As always, for more music like this, please check out my weekly podcast (which is also aired on the Pagan Radio Network).
Labels: A Darker Shade of Pagan, Ataraxia, Daemonia Nymphe, Faun, Monica Richards, music, The Moon and The Nightspirit
4.05.2007
Goddess Doll Posse
It seem that Bjork isn't the only popular artist to tap into Pagan-friendly themes lately. According to MTV News, Tori Amos is utilizing goddess archetypes for her new CD "American Doll Posse" (due out May 1st) to help get her message across.
"...in order to make her political statement, Amos called on "Isabel," one of the four archetypes she developed for the disc. Each of these archetypes symbolizes a particular side of her musical personality, and each is based on one of the female constituents of the Greek pantheon. Isabel, Amos explained, is a photographer and a reflection of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. Clyde, who was inspired by Persephone, the goddess of the underworld, embodies the singer's emotional and idealistic side. There's also Pip, the confrontational "warrior woman" based on Athena, and Santa, the sensual side of the artist, who was inspired by Aphrodite."
Tori Amos along with her inner goddesses.
Amos is planning to manifest these aspects on her new tour, where she will begin each show as one of the archetypes before becoming "Tori" again part-way through. But this isn't just creative dress-up for the singer-songwriter.
"It's not just, 'I'm going to wake up and play dress-up today,' " she said. "I think it's fair to say that all women are a different percentage of these archetypes, and each culture has different versions of these if you're a rich culture. And if you were around before the monotheistic authority, [when] God came and then suppressed the power of the mother gods, these women at one time were powerful and autonomous and part of the pantheon as well as the male gods. Now, of course, there's just one guy, and the women are subservient to him. I find this incredibly myopic. We have access to this rich culture as women, and we need to open ourselves up."
This isn't the first time Amos has exhibited pagan-influenced ideas, her autobiographical "Piece by Piece" (co-authored with Ann Powers) also dipped heavily into goddess archetypes, and her album "Boys for Pele" was partially influenced by the aforementioned volcano goddess. It should be interesting to see what arises at these concerts, though many of her fans already count them as a religious experience.
Labels: archetypes, goddess, music, Paganism, Tori Amos
4.03.2007
Bjork's "Pagan Femininity"
Icelandic superstar Bjork has released the cover art for her new album "Volta" (to be released on May 8th), and discusses its colorful imagery with Pitchfork Media.
The cover to Bjork's new album "Volta"
"The album cover is meant to evoke pagan femininity and, to some degree, feminism, which is a running theme throughout the music of Volta. It's not necessarily about me as a woman, but just women. Kind of that long leap of 10,000 years back, when they [were] in harmony with nature, and just little things like the fact that there are 13 full moons in a year and most women have certain things happening to them 13 times a year, but Christianity wanted to have 12 months, just to try to put that off."
In addition, Bjork says that she is tapping into a "shaman sort of voodoo thing" on tracks like "Earth Intruders" (the first advance single from the album), and talks about the photo shoot that lead to the cover image.
"It was a magical atmosphere in the photo shoot. It was kind of fun, because it wasn't about me, it was about this sort of spirit of - like a woman who is kind of...into rave, no I'm just kidding. Like, a sort of celebration of that ancient, but at the same time kind of neon."
This further cements the pagan-friendly stance that Bjork has been exhibiting for some time now. I can't wait to hear the finished product. You'll most likely be hearing tracks from "Volta" on my Pagan music show once I get my hands on a copy.
In related news, the amazing documentary looking at Icelandic music "Screaming Masterpiece" was released domestically last month. It features Bjork and several amazing pagan-friendly musicians, including the Sigur Ros masterpiece "Odin's Raven Magic" (featuring rimur-singer Steindor Andersen and Icelandic Chief Godi Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson). Definitely worth checking out.
Labels: Bjork, Iceland, music, Paganism, Screaming Masterpiece