quick search yeilds no thread for hippy singer/songwriters like Doug, Tony & David. any fanatics or are we all "too tough" to enjoy old men w 12 string sitting under tree? honestly enjoy Di6 albums like Rose Cloud or Nada but not so keen on All Pigs. not familiar with much else outside the well known albums of the genre (thunder perfect mind , trees in winter etc etc)
so in short, looking for suggestions. new acts and obscure gems from past all welcome.
I believe most of the discussions are in the playlist thread, but here are a few threads that you might find useful:
http://www.special-interests.net/forum/index.php?topic=5939.0
http://www.special-interests.net/forum/index.php?topic=2138.0
http://www.special-interests.net/forum/index.php?topic=2546.0
I thought we had one that spanned mountain folk (Roscoe Holcomb etc) to the great offerings of Little Somebody Records (Novemthree, Arrowwood, etc) and Merlin's Nose Label (Gulaab, In Gowan Ring, etc), but I didn't find anything intensive with a search. There's another newish label I have noted for this, but I can't remember it right now. I would also watch out for reissues from Kissing Spell and Garden of Delights.
Interesting that this popped up, currently going back through the Allerseelen discography looking for all the highlights. Group with such a huge discography but so much weird garbage music that it's almost difficult to look at.
My impression of the genre currently is that most of the new groups trying to mimic it are incapable of doing it in the proper sound and spirit of the old days- I do like Blood and Sun though. Interested to hear others comments and new suggestions however - this genre acted as a bridge for me into noise and PE as a teenager, getting records from World Serpent, shortly before their demise.
Have gotten to see Doug, Tony, and David all play throughout the last 5 years. DIJ in Massachusetts on the last North American tour before John passed (RIP), Tony playing in Berlin as Crisis, and David with C93- all great gigs. Even Crisis shockingly, assumed it would be terrible but was surprised
Quote from: Harvest on July 01, 2018, 02:38:58 AM
quick search yeilds no thread for hippy singer/songwriters like Doug, Tony & David. any fanatics or are we all "too tough" to enjoy old men w 12 string sitting under tree? honestly enjoy Di6 albums like Rose Cloud or Nada but not so keen on All Pigs. not familiar with much else outside the well known albums of the genre (thunder perfect mind , trees in winter etc etc)
so in short, looking for suggestions. new acts and obscure gems from past all welcome.
Changes, Fire+Ice all you need basically, Pyhä Kuolema for more recent stuff
There's certainly threads on C93;
www.special-interests.net/forum/index.php?topic=2036.0
and Fire + Ice;
http://www.special-interests.net/forum/index.php?topic=2569.0
this might also be of interest;
www.special-interests.net/forum/index.php?topic=3445.0
as might this DiJ thread;
http://www.special-interests.net/forum/index.php?topic=3475.0
The one I would highly recommend is Andrew King - very studied and sincere take on traditional sources, esp. on The Amfortas Wound.
What happened to all those Neo folk labels under Steinklang? I don't think much has been put out for years now, which is odd because even if a label folks the artist should still be going...
Hi, just popping in with full disclosure that I have little to zero interest in the "it's just a sunwheel" neofolk that seems to be all the rage these days but about 10-12 years ago I stumbled across this weirdo Austrian folk outfit Sturmpercht and this is one of my favorite folky "wizards and trolls" records: https://sturmpercht.bandcamp.com/album/geister-im-waldgebirg-2014-edition.
To my memory, I don't think there is any Sturmpercht that isn't some degree of great. And while we're here, and to repeat myself like the broken record I am, WALDTEUFEL. Heimliches Deutschland is an all-time favorite.
I use to have this by Hekate & thought it was pretty good:
https://hekate-de.bandcamp.com/album/sonnentanz
Quote from: holy ghost on July 01, 2018, 06:54:23 PM
Hi, just popping in with full disclosure that I have little to zero interest in the "it's just a sunwheel" neofolk that seems to be all the rage these days but about 10-12 years ago I stumbled across this weirdo Austrian folk outfit Sturmpercht and this is one of my favorite folky "wizards and trolls" records: https://sturmpercht.bandcamp.com/album/geister-im-waldgebirg-2014-edition.
Nothing wrong at all with Sturmpercht - they have some really great material. But worth pointing out that this is one of the guys behind Rasthof Dachau
https://gruppe-eulenspiegel.bandcamp.com/album/eulentanz
This was a nice surprise for the morning.
Quote from: deutscheasphalt on July 01, 2018, 10:49:38 AM
Quote from: Harvest on July 01, 2018, 02:38:58 AM
quick search yeilds no thread for hippy singer/songwriters like Doug, Tony & David. any fanatics or are we all "too tough" to enjoy old men w 12 string sitting under tree? honestly enjoy Di6 albums like Rose Cloud or Nada but not so keen on All Pigs. not familiar with much else outside the well known albums of the genre (thunder perfect mind , trees in winter etc etc)
so in short, looking for suggestions. new acts and obscure gems from past all welcome.
Changes, Fire+Ice all you need basically, Pyhä Kuolema for more recent stuff
Pyhä kuolema (not Pyhä Kuolema btw) has a backing band now for live shows. Good stuff.
The transition from summer into fall always brings on a neofolk mood. I've already spent some time recently with Sol Invictus' great "Trees in Winter" and Fire + Ice's "Fractured Man". No doubt the usual Blood Axis, Di6, Current 93, etc. playlists are just around the corner, but as time goes on Ian Read/Fire + Ice just proves to be ever more the goat. "Gilded by the Sun" is a perfect album, and the combination of early music, reworked traditional folk songs, subtle synth work, and occult themes all used in the simplest, most effective ways throughout every album, topped with Read's humble vocals (see also his 'Benediction'/'Malediction' on C93's "Swastikas for Noddy", and 'Brown Book' on the Di6 album of the same name)... It's just no frills, true "neofolk".
Quote from: Zeno Marx on September 15, 2020, 09:00:24 PM
https://gruppe-eulenspiegel.bandcamp.com/album/eulentanz
This was a nice surprise for the morning.
The instrumentals are good, big early music vibes, but I generally can't get down with German folk-style vocals. They always kinda just sound goofy to me. Thankfully the album is mostly instrumental. 'Thule' and 'Tedesca' are great and that's as far as I've gotten at the moment. Pairs well with the "Early Venetian Lute Music" album I was streaming yesterday while reading.
I'm not sure how everyone else feels about them but I always get a kick out of Death In Rome. They do Neofolk covers of pop songs. If I am remembering correctly it is made up of members of Death In June so if you dig their output you will probably at least find this new stuff to be mildly amusing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwYrOCB0_To
Quote from: deutscheasphalt on July 01, 2018, 10:49:38 AM
Quote from: Harvest on July 01, 2018, 02:38:58 AM
quick search yeilds no thread for hippy singer/songwriters like Doug, Tony & David. any fanatics or are we all "too tough" to enjoy old men w 12 string sitting under tree? honestly enjoy Di6 albums like Rose Cloud or Nada but not so keen on All Pigs. not familiar with much else outside the well known albums of the genre (thunder perfect mind , trees in winter etc etc)
so in short, looking for suggestions. new acts and obscure gems from past all welcome.
Changes, Fire+Ice all you need basically, Pyhä Kuolema for more recent stuff
funny to see these three acts listed together. all three came up in recent conversation between myself and my other half. i've always considered Di6 to be one of my top 3 favorites, but PK has quickly become a runner-up, simply in the respect that i can put them on in any circumstance, regardless of mood and always want to listen to it. was unaware of the Process ties regarding Changes until recently, which lends a bit more to their music for me. decent album, although nothing beats the title track imo.
For the Finns, there is two new neofolk themed interviews here. Tervahäät and Pyhä Kuolema. For those who don't understand Finnish, there is just couple clips from yet-to-be-released 3rd Pyhä Kuolema album!
https://sarvi-podcast.bandcamp.com
Impatiently awaiting the 3rd release!
Been really into Jännerwein, Forseti, and In Gowan Ring lately. Slipping into Autumn has always got me listening to more of this genre.
Crazy to think we didn't have a neofolk thread yet!
Also crazy to think we got this far without anyone mentioning Rome yet and Of The Wand and the Moon?!?!
Some other favorites of mine from this year:
Crooked Mouth - Earth Becomes Sun
https://crookedmouthcampbell.bandcamp.com/
Blood & Sun - Love & Ashes
https://bloodandsun.bandcamp.com/album/love-ashes
Falgar - Atavismo solariego
https://falgarpr.bandcamp.com/album/atavismo-solariego
Nighttime - ∞
https://nighttimes.bandcamp.com/
Old standbys:
Kinit Her https://kinither.bandcamp.com/album/fire-returns-to-heaven
O Paradise https://lapin.bandcamp.com/album/memorias
Wood Witch https://bravemysteries.bandcamp.com/album/wood-witch
Roma Amor https://romaamor.bandcamp.com/
Steve Von Till https://stevevontill.bandcamp.com/
Wreathes https://wreathes.bandcamp.com/
Scott Kelly https://scottkelly.bandcamp.com/
and finally... not sure if y'all know but the PNW has a HUGE neofolk/pagan folk scene:
King Dude https://kingdude.bandcamp.com/
Witchbottle https://witchbottle.bandcamp.com/
Serpentent https://serpentent.bandcamp.com/
Novemthree https://novemthree.bandcamp.com/
Thunder Grey Pilgrim https://thundergreypilgrim.bandcamp.com/
Disemballerina https://disemballerinapdx.bandcamp.com/
Ekstasis https://ekstasisfolk.bandcamp.com/
Horse Cult https://horsecult.bandcamp.com/
Night Profound https://nightprofound.bandcamp.com/
Aos Si https://otherworldlyinvocations.bandcamp.com/
A Heart In The Stillness https://aheartinthestillness.bandcamp.com/
and finally to round it all out my own project!
Headstone Brigade https://headstonebrigade.bandcamp.com/
Really dig Darkwood, although I am not sure how big the appeal would be outside of their homeland, as the lyrics are a major part. A really nice display of how very basic Neofolk elements, i.e. Guitar, one or two other instruments (violin, sax, drums etc) and voice can make for an incredibly well-rounded and somewhat bombastic whole, when they are utilised perfectly.
Apart from that, Neofolk is THE ultimate hit and miss genre for me personally. Stuff is either amazing or kind of unlistenable heh
i released this a couple of months ago, may be of interest to some. danish neofolk w/an emphasis on the "industrial folk" aspect. i still have copies if anything is of interest, also i got another tape from the band, that is quite different (more "traditional" NF). (hopefully) enjoy: https://brutalisttapes.bandcamp.com/album/forgotten-youth-the-duty-of-love
I myself love most:
- Death in June
- Et Nihil (just one album and EP, but extremely good)
- Of the Wand & the Moon
- Sol Invictus
- Les Chasseurs de la Nuit (Kim Larsen from OTWATM side-project)
- Luftwaffe
- Changes
- Herr Lounge Corps (he worked with Douglas on Death in June - Peaceful Snow album, great solo albums, worth checking)
- Rome
- By the Spirits (cool one-man band from Poland)
- Darkwood (new album is really good)
- Der Blutharsch
- Sixth Comm
Also from stuff close to neofolk: Spiritual Front, King Dude, Steve von Till, Skin (side-project of Michael Gira and Jarboe from Swans, released 2 albums around 1990).
I also record myself some neofolk with my band Grave of Love, we got 2 EPs released so far and in Spring 2021 Only the Sun Knows will release our debut album. Here is some teaser: https://youtu.be/IcDk15xZD84
and music: http://graveoflove.bandcamp.com
I also made year ago a Spotify playlist with various neofolk music: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4slkhHWFmRdmNpzRBswWI7?si=rvajYVpORhSflyOQTNMRbA
new Brendan Perry album is Rebetiko Greek music. Dead Can Dance. I've only listened to the first half. I'd have no issue with another synth-heavy album, but this is fine too.
https://brendan-perry.bandcamp.com/releases
Just released a new full-length collab of dark accordion-driven neofolk
https://headstonebrigade.bandcamp.com/album/crooked-headstone
Quote from: xdementia on April 13, 2021, 09:30:59 AM
Just released a new full-length collab of dark accordion-driven neofolk
https://headstonebrigade.bandcamp.com/album/crooked-headstone
got it, thanks. Enjoyed the old shipwreck tune a lot
Glad you enjoyed :)
Impromptu performance in a cemetery
https://youtu.be/DaqsmmEh53U
Loooooong awaited album by Pyhä Kuolema was released on vinyl. Very small edition, and therefore also price unusually high. It is unusual, but also very much (neo-)folk. There are some futurist synth elements, experimental moments, percussive elements, but mostly its vocals + guitar type of stuff. Finnish lyrics are highly advanced in writing, but for people who do not know language, there is no way really to translate the atmosphere. They can also listen the atmosphere of music.
Some examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz9AfwPfJno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIVlUx-8ooQ
I guess full album is also in spotify/bandcamp etc.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on July 24, 2021, 10:00:47 AM
Loooooong awaited album by Pyhä Kuolema was released on vinyl. Very small edition, and therefore also price unusually high. It is unusual, but also very much (neo-)folk. There are some futurist synth elements, experimental moments, percussive elements, but mostly its vocals + guitar type of stuff. Finnish lyrics are highly advanced in writing, but for people who do not know language, there is no way really to translate the atmosphere. They can also listen the atmosphere of music.
Some examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz9AfwPfJno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIVlUx-8ooQ
I guess full album is also in spotify/bandcamp etc.
As I don't speak Finnish I generally reserve Pyha Kuolema for when I'm coming down from acid. The artwork for Kevättuulisormi makes me think he meant for this, to communicate across languages in this way. I like the new album a lot, it feels fleshed out with the other instrumental elements and almost reminds me of Sonne Hagal in that regard.
Last month Only the Sun Knows released new album from Grave of Love - 'All Those Tears Ago':
https://graveoflove.bandcamp.com/
Also not so far ago Of the Wand & the Moon came back with 'Your Love Can't Hold This Wreath of Sorrow'. Great album, good successor to 'Lone Descent'.
Nice I've enjoyed Grave of Love's previous material - can't wait to dig into this.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on July 24, 2021, 10:00:47 AM
Loooooong awaited album by Pyhä Kuolema was released on vinyl. Very small edition, and therefore also price unusually high. It is unusual, but also very much (neo-)folk. There are some futurist synth elements, experimental moments, percussive elements, but mostly its vocals + guitar type of stuff. Finnish lyrics are highly advanced in writing, but for people who do not know language, there is no way really to translate the atmosphere. They can also listen the atmosphere of music.
Some examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz9AfwPfJno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIVlUx-8ooQ
I guess full album is also in spotify/bandcamp etc.
Sounds awesome... I just love how Finnish sounds when sung.
I'd heard The Joy of Nature from the split with Novemthree, but I didn't delve further with them. The 2020 album, Until Only the Mountain Remains, is a honey of an album. The cover art giving a nod to Tangerine Dream's Phaedra. Reminds me of the richness of Sangre de Muerdago. I should have paid more attention to that split.
enjoyed a lot the new of the wand of the moon.
Quote from: tiny_tove on January 21, 2022, 10:59:44 AM
enjoyed a lot the new of the wand of the moon.
the tracks i've heard sound a lot more Cohen compared to DIJ, which is a positive turn in my opinion
Quote from: Zeno Marx on January 20, 2022, 09:45:01 PM
I'd heard The Joy of Nature from the split with Novemthree, but I didn't delve further with them. The 2020 album, Until Only the Mountain Remains, is a honey of an album. The cover art giving a nod to Tangerine Dream's Phaedra. Reminds me of the richness of Sangre de Muerdago. I should have paid more attention to that split.
Love the project!
I've released this 7'' years ago and it is still one of my favorite works from him.
https://thejoyofnature.bandcamp.com/album/a-ilha-que-perdeu-o-encanto
Quote from: totalblack on January 21, 2022, 12:03:07 PM
Quote from: tiny_tove on January 21, 2022, 10:59:44 AM
enjoyed a lot the new of the wand of the moon.
the tracks i've heard sound a lot more Cohen compared to DIJ, which is a positive turn in my opinion
I just couldn't warm to it, so far.
Quote from: burdizzo1 on January 23, 2022, 09:32:17 PM
Quote from: totalblack on January 21, 2022, 12:03:07 PM
Quote from: tiny_tove on January 21, 2022, 10:59:44 AM
enjoyed a lot the new of the wand of the moon.
the tracks i've heard sound a lot more Cohen compared to DIJ, which is a positive turn in my opinion
I just couldn't warm to it, so far.
Instant classic - love the new direction/evolution!
Ah, yeah - fair enough. Just at the moment when I'm turning to neo-folk, I mostly put on Überfolk's "Music For Nations". It's George Burdi, and some blonde bird. Now, say what you like about George Burdi (formerly of Rahowa), but he has a pretty amazing singing voice, and the songs and instrumentation are really top level. I know he's not really part of the neo-folk 'scene' that much, but this album puts an awful lot of such stuff in the shade. What was it someone once said - "too good to be neo-folk"!!!? Hah!
Quote from: burdizzo1 on February 09, 2022, 04:11:59 PM
Ah, yeah - fair enough. Just at the moment when I'm turning to neo-folk, I mostly put on Überfolk's "Music For Nations". It's George Burdi, and some blonde bird. Now, say what you like about George Burdi (formerly of Rahowa), but he has a pretty amazing singing voice, and the songs and instrumentation are really top level. I know he's not really part of the neo-folk 'scene' that much, but this album puts an awful lot of such stuff in the shade. What was it someone once said - "too good to be neo-folk"!!!? Hah!
It's good, but I do prefer the unofficial RAHOWA "Uberfolk" album. It was the raw, more demo recordings of something unfinished, what some Germans decided to put out as 3rd Rahowa CD. It is more towards Uberfolk, but less of new-age graphics, less "productions values". Final double CD is a notch too long, but this bootleg is pretty perfect.
I don't know who, or where, they were recommended to me, but Fields of Mildew have been scratching a tough spot to itch. Not pure folk, as it has a dark indie sound; a unique set of effects on the guitar. Folk nonetheless. Consistently short releases that are easy to digest.
The 2021 Novemthree album does not disappoint. They've done no wrong, and they only get better with time. At the top of the neofolk game.
Quote from: Zeno Marx on February 09, 2022, 11:39:56 PM
I don't know who, or where, they were recommended to me, but Fields of Mildew have been scratching a tough spot to itch. Not pure folk, as it has a dark indie sound; a unique set of effects on the guitar. Folk nonetheless. Consistently short releases that are easy to digest.
The 2021 Novemthree album does not disappoint. They've done no wrong, and they only get better with time. At the top of the neofolk game.
Absolutely! I picked up one of the first cassettes on spec and have been hooked since. I'd say the first EPs were my favorite releases of that year regardless of genre. I'm surprised they are not better known as I think they are all really solid releases.
Current 93 NY shows have been cancelled yet again...
Quote from: absurdexposition on September 08, 2022, 06:58:19 PM
Current 93 NY shows have been cancelled yet again...
Yea I am pretty steamed about this. It seems fairly obvious his management agency fucked this up somehow, which is just unforgivable considering they had two fucking years to get get paperwork straight! I hope I get to see him eventually....
If anyone still has flight tix out to NY for it, there is some cool stuff going on that weekend at least. Amphetamine Sulphate anniversary party + Lionel Maunz art opening. Hopefully some industrious and annoyed new Yorkers put a tight show together or something.
Also, there is a Cult of Youth double LP out later this year.
Video for my cover of The Knife's Forest Families
https://youtu.be/L_qKw3hW-lw
Quote from: Eigen Bast on September 09, 2022, 12:23:13 AM
Also, there is a Cult of Youth double LP out later this year.
Also, the Cult of Youth 2xLP is out today!!!
EAGERWHIP - Death At The Eastern Temple, US Apocalyptic Folk.
https://youtu.be/1YehJjiqPI0
Have tried to listen to new Cult Of Youth, but so far can't really get over the hi-fi production.
It ain't really dirty either, but CURRENT 93 "If A City Is Set Upon A Hill" CD was good. While being fan of his oldest work, I have learned to appreciate pretty much everything. Should give it more listening, but not in hurry. Listened, liked, and filed at shelves and will have to return again after some time.
Latest purchase was ABOVE THE RUINS "Songs of the wolf" LP. New LP edition came 2019, on Russian Infinite Fog Productions. Then hit covid, then came war, and seemed unlikely to purchase it. Now was ordering stuff from Drone rec, stuff that haven't had possibility to buy wholesale, and browsed catalogue merely to letter "A" vinyls and had pile of missed items and enough for one purchase...
I did have formerly Above The Ruins on No Surrender compilation LP. Especially among the RAC groups, material is charming somewhat clumsy post-punk. Indeed, most tracks are not exactly neo-folk, but the works of Tony Wakeford between Death In June and Sol Invinctus. Latter one being one of artists I most frequently return to. Bunch of albums been listened this year too. This type of material has the spirit and production I like. Not sounding like production values of contemporary pop music, but oddities, little out of tune, little clumsy etc.. "Make Us Strong" probably highlight of album!
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on June 03, 2023, 02:45:56 PM
Latest purchase was ABOVE THE RUINS "Songs of the wolf" LP. New LP edition came 2019, on Russian Infinite Fog Productions. Then hit covid, then came war, and seemed unlikely to purchase it. Now was ordering stuff from Drone rec, stuff that haven't had possibility to buy wholesale, and browsed catalogue merely to letter "A" vinyls and had pile of missed items and enough for one purchase...
I did have formerly Above The Ruins on No Surrender compilation LP. Especially among the RAC groups, material is charming somewhat clumsy post-punk. Indeed, most tracks are not exactly neo-folk, but the works of Tony Wakeford between Death In June and Sol Invinctus. Latter one being one of artists I most frequently return to. Bunch of albums been listened this year too. This type of material has the spirit and production I like. Not sounding like production values of contemporary pop music, but oddities, little out of tune, little clumsy etc.. "Make Us Strong" probably highlight of album!
Ha ha! Was just listening to this tonight - I had the old World Serpent CD issue. For me, the best tracks are "Hundred Flags" and "Progress". I think by now it's pretty much accepted that a former drummer with Skrewdriver played on this, too? Anyway, yes - it's nice, but not perfect. Speaking of the "No Surrender" LP, another non-RAC band on that that stood out was Final Sound with their catchy synth song! But back to
"Songs Of The Wolf": the World Serpent CD I have is missing a track from the original, for God knows what reason (it's not as if it's a long album, by any means!), and I thought maybe I'd get the LP to put it right. Well, browsing the Infinite Fog catalogue, I see Wakeford is giving part of the money raised from sales of this to 'some charities', among them Hunt Saboteurs. Fuck that.
Progress is also my favourite track by Above The Ruins. Also have that old WS version and have not seen or listened to the reissue.
As for the new C93 album, I like it better than most of his output in the post-2000 era. One thing I particularly enjoyed on the new one is that his voice has become old and brittle. It suits the music and overall atmosphere of nostalgia and forgotten ghost towns. Still, the last album I bought was Black Ships and the last "real" C93 album for me is Sleep Has His House. I have more than 100 C93 releases and used to manically collect them alongside the affiliated bands, but things just run their course and I don't wallow in nostalgia. That whole scene is over and the ones still active are hopelessly past their prime. That said, C93 has aged better than most of their contemporaries for sure.
When it comes to contemporary neo-folk, Solblot still holds up, IMO. So does Russian bands like Majdanek Waltz, Romowe Rikoito and Neutral. When it comes to new acts von Vvaeldten are okay, but maybe a tad too polished, which is a common problem. Unfortunately neo-folk bands today generally sound like they want to make soundtracks to nature documentaries.
Quote
Final Sound
Never saw or heard the cassette they released. A reissue of this would be nice!
Quote from: impulse manslaughter on June 05, 2023, 10:54:56 PM
Quote
Final Sound
Never saw or heard the cassette they released. A reissue of this would be nice!
It would be excellent, and I'm sure there's many would be interested in hearing it, myself included! However, something tells me it's as rare as hen's teeth - if it even existed at all.
Quote from: burdizzo1 on June 05, 2023, 12:54:05 AMWell, browsing the Infinite Fog catalogue, I see Wakeford is giving part of the money raised from sales of this to 'some charities', among them Hunt Saboteurs. Fuck that.
Well if it helps, it's highly unlikely that any of those charities will see any money from Wakeford.
Quote from: Phenol on June 05, 2023, 04:37:18 PM
As for the new C93 album, I like it better than most of his output in the post-2000 era. One thing I particularly enjoyed on the new one is that his voice has become old and brittle. It suits the music and overall atmosphere of nostalgia and forgotten ghost towns. Still, the last album I bought was Black Ships and the last "real" C93 album for me is Sleep Has His House. I have more than 100 C93 releases and used to manically collect them alongside the affiliated bands, but things just run their course and I don't wallow in nostalgia. That whole scene is over and the ones still active are hopelessly past their prime. That said, C93 has aged better than most of their contemporaries for sure.
I need to spend more time with "If a City...", but I immediately liked it better than "The Light is Leaving Us All" which didn't have very much staying power at all and felt like the old formula was getting played out. "Black Ships..." is the last real one for me. After Michael Cashmore left everything got a lot less interesting.
Quote from: absurdexposition on June 18, 2023, 11:42:18 PM
Quote from: Phenol on June 05, 2023, 04:37:18 PM
As for the new C93 album, I like it better than most of his output in the post-2000 era. One thing I particularly enjoyed on the new one is that his voice has become old and brittle. It suits the music and overall atmosphere of nostalgia and forgotten ghost towns. Still, the last album I bought was Black Ships and the last "real" C93 album for me is Sleep Has His House. I have more than 100 C93 releases and used to manically collect them alongside the affiliated bands, but things just run their course and I don't wallow in nostalgia. That whole scene is over and the ones still active are hopelessly past their prime. That said, C93 has aged better than most of their contemporaries for sure.
I need to spend more time with "If a City...", but I immediately liked it better than "The Light is Leaving Us All" which didn't have very much staying power at all and felt like the old formula was getting played out. "Black Ships..." is the last real one for me. After Michael Cashmore left everything got a lot less interesting.
"The Light..." also felt that way at first and people were saying how C93 were back in shape, but I got bored with it super quickly and din't bother buying it in the end. My initial feeling with the new one is much better, but like you I need to listen to it more. "Black Ships..." is good and I even have that stupid fan version with my name in the booklet, but I feel like it lacks something, that magic the old albums have is absent even though Michael Cashmore and Steven Stapleton are both on it. I would like to see most of these guys just retire and leave their legacies fairly untainted, but I guess you can't ask an artist not to create even if he peaked decades ago. I mean the latest few DIJ albums (well, arguably since Operation Hummingbird, so for more than 2 decades...) have been real stinkers, and live Douglas is just doing his usual lazy routine. Tony has been doing better quality-wise, but at the same time I rarely listen to Sol Invictus post "The Blade". "Fractured Man" by Fire + Ice was good, IMO, but I have yet to listen to anything that came after. My interest in neofolk and related has declined quite a bit since 2005 or so, but I often revisit and enjoy the old stuff.
A bit off topic but does anyone have a lead on copies or even pdfs of the battlenoise-martial industrial book? I know it was pulled due to issues when it was released but I imagine someone out there has a copy.
I saw a copy of this for sale on reddit a year or two ago - for some mad amount of money. E250, or something - or perhaps it was even more.
I was lucky enough to get a copy before it was withdrawn, but sadly, don't really want to sell it.
neofolk west coast tour 2023
(https://i.redd.it/8jehurdg1s7b1.jpg)
I have a near mint copy of the Above the Ruins CD (World Serpent) for sale: 15 euro (+ shipping)
"Latest purchase was ABOVE THE RUINS "Songs of the wolf" LP. New LP edition came 2019, on Russian Infinite Fog Productions. Then hit covid, then came war, and seemed unlikely to purchase it. Now was ordering stuff from Drone rec, stuff that haven't had possibility to buy wholesale, and browsed catalogue merely to letter "A" vinyls and had pile of missed items and enough for one purchase...
I did have formerly Above The Ruins on No Surrender compilation LP. Especially among the RAC groups, material is charming somewhat clumsy post-punk. Indeed, most tracks are not exactly neo-folk, but the works of Tony Wakeford between Death In June and Sol Invinctus. Latter one being one of artists I most frequently return to. Bunch of albums been listened this year too. This type of material has the spirit and production I like. Not sounding like production values of contemporary pop music, but oddities, little out of tune, little clumsy etc.. "Make Us Strong" probably highlight of album!"
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Quote from: burdizzo1 on June 22, 2023, 11:11:14 AM
I saw a copy of this for sale on reddit a year or two ago - for some mad amount of money. E250, or something - or perhaps it was even more.
I was lucky enough to get a copy before it was withdrawn, but sadly, don't really want to sell it.
Yeah I figured this would be the case for the most part but figured I'd see what was out there.
About "Neofolk", I'm writing an article on the subject and I was wondering if someone recalls when the definition came out.
In the beginning all this stuff was called "apocalyptic folk", then "neofolk" started to spread and it became term-umbrella for all the movement.
In the first chapter of "Looking for Europe", there's an interview with Dirk Hoffmann from Zillo. The interviewer asks: "The term neofolk first appeared at the beginning of the 90's in the magazine Zillo. Was it invented by a Zillo editor/writer or taken from another source?"
Hoffmann says no, they did not invent the term, and it was probably already in use.
Beginning of the 90's seems a bit too earlier to me.
I tried going through some zines of those days and the term never came out (you had varios descriptions like dark folk, or things like that but never neofolk used to define a genre)
My first recall is around the end of of the 90's when bands like Orplid started to release music...
Quote from: BlackCavendish on July 14, 2023, 01:32:20 PM
About "Neofolk", I'm writing an article on the subject and I was wondering if someone recalls when the definition came out.
I recall Douglas P saying in an interview that he first came across the term in some record store, but I can't remember which interview or era that would be, but I'll see if I can dig it up. I would not think it was coined before "But What Ends..."
Quote from: BlackCavendish on July 14, 2023, 01:32:20 PM
In the first chapter of "Looking for Europe", there's an interview with Dirk Hoffmann from Zillo. The interviewer asks: "The term neofolk first appeared at the beginning of the 90's in the magazine Zillo. Was it invented by a Zillo editor/writer or taken from another source?"
Hoffmann says no, they did not invent the term, and it was probably already in use.
can't remember who, but yes I think it was coined with apocalyptic folk back in the UK in the early 90s although it became more prominent slightly later
Quote from: tiny_tove on July 15, 2023, 02:52:33 PM
Quote from: BlackCavendish on July 14, 2023, 01:32:20 PM
In the first chapter of "Looking for Europe", there's an interview with Dirk Hoffmann from Zillo. The interviewer asks: "The term neofolk first appeared at the beginning of the 90's in the magazine Zillo. Was it invented by a Zillo editor/writer or taken from another source?"
Hoffmann says no, they did not invent the term, and it was probably already in use.
can't remember who, but yes I think it was coined with apocalyptic folk back in the UK in the early 90s although it became more prominent slightly later
And Tibet himself - again in the early '90s - described C93 as the "great clearing-house for industrial folk".
If you can get access to the old yahoo groups archive there was once a very active Neo Folf one that I'm pretty sure would have the answer in....
Quote from: burdizzo1 on July 16, 2023, 12:00:39 AM
Quote from: tiny_tove on July 15, 2023, 02:52:33 PM
Quote from: BlackCavendish on July 14, 2023, 01:32:20 PM
In the first chapter of "Looking for Europe", there's an interview with Dirk Hoffmann from Zillo. The interviewer asks: "The term neofolk first appeared at the beginning of the 90's in the magazine Zillo. Was it invented by a Zillo editor/writer or taken from another source?"
Hoffmann says no, they did not invent the term, and it was probably already in use.
can't remember who, but yes I think it was coined with apocalyptic folk back in the UK in the early 90s although it became more prominent slightly later
And Tibet himself - again in the early '90s - described C93 as the "great clearing-house for industrial folk".
slightly off topic, and won't answer the question, but I would like to share sonething about Italy. we used "folk apocalittico" instead of neofolk until the early 2000s. Journalist Aldo Chimenti (who wrote the massive DIJ Bio published by tsunami) was the biggest fan of the genre and wrote extensively on that on magazine Rockerilla. As of 2000 when concerts became regular and the genre got trendy, it shifted to neofolk (also because it sounded shorter and in Italian less ridicolous).
It became an umbrella term to put together everything from acoustic to martial to neoclassical to reinassance inspired (camerata mediolanense) and to unique projects like Ain Soph, Novy Svet and Ianva who definitely don't have much to do with the original standard. It was so more a term for an environment with some common aesthetic than a music description.
When traditional-folk inspired projects like Sturmpercht. Knotwork, Sangre Cavallum, Arnica started popping up, Max from Occidental Congress coined the UR-Folk tag which definitely suits the subgenre.
new shit coming soon
https://youtu.be/GXrLUbwYSgE
Dark folk duo Aune Mire may be of interest. Both members, Anthony Amelang (eponymous artist and member of Controlled Opposition), and Miles McClain (Shit God, member of Watershed Group) are from the noise world. Here is a single in advance of an upcoming full-length album.
https://aune-mire.bandcamp.com/track/charm-for-drawing-out-poison (https://aune-mire.bandcamp.com/track/charm-for-drawing-out-poison)
Seeing some of the good stuff within last couple of weeks.
Private show where Kaarna performed more cultural themed martial industrial set of his. Musically more into martial sound, but visually and with the sung vocals very much neofolk vibes. Then Kaarna and others playing cover song set including Sol Invictus, Coil and more.
Same gig Grunt played a bit unusual finnish language set, with less in-your-face approach.
Last saturday, Pyhä Kuolema did surprise gig at Apocalyptic Rites, being last minute replacement for Morrigan. Set was not like Pyhä Kuolema band gigs have recently been, but again more of his older man with guitar approach. However, it was also special. Starting with nothing but vocals and drum beat, local regional anthem performed. Then moving into his own songs, old, new, delicate guitar picking or louder neofolk chords. There was excellent song where he made entire crowd perform vocal tones that was used as basis of the track. Like performing neofolk song with audience chanting and howling simple couple tones shifting slowly, while he started to build track over that. Never seen nor taken part of such thing in gigs like these.
Set ended with massive special version of new songs that leans heavily into industrial sound. All four current members were present, with doing some commanding backing shouts and martial drumming. Excellent and totally beyond of the generic neofolk routines we tend to hear from people who simply "replicate" the most obvious neofolk things. Entire gig absolutely amazing.
If I had to pick up a name to explain what neofolk is in 2023 Pyhä Kuolema would definitely be the one.
Solid discography, always in progression, artistically very personal and with the right attitude.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on July 24, 2021, 10:00:47 AMLoooooong awaited album by Pyhä Kuolema was released on vinyl. Very small edition, and therefore also price unusually high. It is unusual, but also very much (neo-)folk. There are some futurist synth elements, experimental moments, percussive elements, but mostly its vocals + guitar type of stuff. Finnish lyrics are highly advanced in writing, but for people who do not know language, there is no way really to translate the atmosphere. They can also listen the atmosphere of music.
Some examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz9AfwPfJno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIVlUx-8ooQ
I guess full album is also in spotify/bandcamp etc.
BandCamp link? Seems both those videos are dead and the only search result on BC is some kind of podcast
New video for a track from our upcoming album Victory & Defeat
https://youtu.be/QnkxXOvbJ0s?si=RmWckSe4Wbm4lOnx
Quote from: xdementia on October 19, 2023, 08:40:38 PMBandCamp link? Seems both those videos are dead and the only search result on BC is some kind of podcast
Not on Bandcamp currently, here's a working Youtube playlist plus it's on Spotify and Apple Music iirc if that's your thing.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nB8yc98HoZ-AHxL-1lf-h4_5wV7h8yZKM
Just released a new tape from my neofolk project
https://headstonebrigade.bandcamp.com/album/dark-shadows-in-bright-light
Two EPs on one cassette! Side A features "Dark Shadows in Bright Light" and Side B features "Divine Vestiges". Both EPs are Headstone Brigade's covers, re-interpretations, and devotionals. Limited to 100 copies and released by Weregnome Records.
Der Blutharsch / Sottofasciasemplice split 7" - very interesting particular moment in time in the underground when this came out. Their frontman Mario Vattani was Italy's Consul General in Japan and fired by his performance in CasaPovnd event 2012. CasaPovnd, when they first came out, were hip to alot of global third world anti-imperialist struggles; antineocon; appealing to millenials, etc... Kind of predates alot of the activity on the internet since 2016. It is cool that Der Blutharsch did a split with a CasaPovnd-adjacent group. Don't expect to see anything similar drop in the underground music scene these days. I think this record is unique for that.
Sottofasciasemplice was a very interesting project. Alternative music meets neofolk (in the beginning, especially the album "Crociato"), then they moved towards a more electronic sound in recent years. The focus has always been, as happens with these bands, on the lyrics. "Come mai" is a perfect example, and has become something of an anthem in certain circles.
However, in those years it was not impossible to see this type of impromptu collaborations (on the compilation dedicated to Codreanu there were both Sottofasciasemplice and Londinium SPQR, another Italian group from that political area), and Der Blutharsch himself did a split with ZetaZeroAlfa (the CasaPound leader's band).