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 AARDIA
Fairy Tales From Beyond
2003
MCD
Witchcraft and Folklore ARD 003
15:59
Dramatic and menacing percussion, celestial choirs and neoclassical
piano characterise Aardia's debut MCD of film soundtrack
music. It's composed by Patrik Söderlund and
Daniel Johnsson and reminds me of those historical
epics that my grandmother took me to see as a child, although the
actual musical inspiration here is Fabio Frizzi, Carl Orff and Ennio
Morricone rather than Cecil B de Mille. One rather suspects that
the fellow Swedish project, Arcana, and the American
neo-mediaeval project, The Soil Bleeds Black, have
also had some influence. On the literary front Aardia cite Lovecraft,
Poe and Tolkein as inspirations.
In an attempt to sound literally like a film soundtrack, 'The Summoner'
begins with a Mediaeval convivial, while 'Call To Arms' features
whinnying horses and the sound of mortal combat. Incorporation of
'historical' SFX and other material always treads a fine line between
the convincing and the kitsch. I think Aardia get away with it,
but I tend to feel more comfortable with the other two, less literal,
tracks. 'The Wandering' is percussive enough, but generally less
epic in scope and features female vocals by Maria Carström.
I think the best track, however, is the title one, 'Fairy Tales
From Beyond', which has the dramatic neoclassical qualities of the
first two without the SFX.
The recording can be downloaded free of charge from the Aardia
MP3 website, although you may prefer to own the CD replete with
Tolkeinesque artwork.
Rik - 3 March 2003
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