Aufklarung: My mistress eyes

In the end is the beginning

Five "cornerstone" poems by authors whose work marked Europe's (and the whole world's) literary history - the famous Shakespeare sonnet My Mistress' Eyes Are Nothing Like the Sun, Wordsworth's The Solitary Reaper and She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways, Home Is Where One Starts From by T. S. Eliot (from the Four Quartets) and When You Are Old by W. B. Yeats - set to music in an ambitious yet unpretentious album, merging past and modern resonances in a peculiarly attractive mix.

Betty Donelly: Alone & No Title

Bella donna of cracked porcelain

As is the case with many fortunate events in life, my discovery of Betty Donelly and her universe was exclusively due to chance. While running a search for songs with the word "belladonna" in the title (for some reason that is of no importance at the moment), I came across one entitled The Belladonna Saucer Eyes. The melody and accompaniment brought memories of Marc Almond back in his glorious Mother Fist & Her Five Daughters days, while the vocals and singing style were reminiscent of The Cure - but still, the originality of the result as a total could account for a really unique musical identity. The voice had something tormented yet powerful in its "texture", the lyrics told a strange, melancholy story, an unexpected melodic twist in the last phrases of the refrain took me completely by surprise. I was hooked.

MADFEET: Si l'amour etait de ce monde

To go where?

Okay... I found this album while searching for Celtic rock music for a friend, and I must admit that it attracted my curiosity, given the fact that in spite of the impressive introductions on the group's main page, the one and only review it has got so far is negative to the extreme and without any explanations. I must also admit that I usually write about the music I find interesting and which I hope other people might also like to discover; I have infinite respect for everyone's creative endeavours and their (our) agony of artistic expression, so when I don't like something, I just don't write anything. And I have to confess that this time, I find myself in a difficult position.

XKTDra: Presentations

The voice of fairies and mermaids

This is an album out of this world... Music that comes from an unknown, seductive universe, and the voice of a mermaid or a fairy, with an almost archetypal sound that speaks directly to the heart.

Blood Ruby: Recent Songs

Girl power

Interesting blend of voices, with an echo of something between Nina Persson and Tracey Thorn - not the kind of female voice that appeals to me personally, but with a very distinct timbre and colour that enhances the atmosphere of the songs. Their lower notes are sweet, showing perhaps the real "character" of the voice. Ethereal guitars and keyboards, robust but not overwhelming percussion. The lyrics are beautiful, some of the melodies "difficult" enough to make a difference.

Silvia O: Es Tarde

Songs for a summer afternoon

Dreamy melodies ranging from jazzy to ambient-electro. The voice is beautiful, warm and sensual; the slow-moving rhythms and almost whispered words have a calming, soothing effect. Dysphoria is an ominous note in the heart of the sweetness, a menacing but not unwelcome agitation of the waters.

NanowaR: Other Bands Play, Nanowar Gay!

Brilliant meta-metal!

When art defines itself in technical terms from within a work of art, then it becomes meta-art. Accordingly, when metal music defines itself in the same way from within the songs of an album, it becomes meta-metal. And when a generous dose of humor is blended in the mix, then we have parody at its best, making merciless fun of metal music while paying comprehensive homage to it at the same time.

Pivert: Pourquoi pas?

Wistful and sweet

Soft, moody melodies, lyrics combining humor and tenderness and a pleasant voice with potential. I like this expressive way of singing, making each song sound like an interior monologue or an intimate dialogue with the listener.