Amber Autumn is a new sub-label for Candlelight records and according to the artist who is first appearing on it, it’s her own alternative one but will hopefully have others joining it in the future. It is pretty much perfect that the artist also known as Andrea Haugen should have her own domain as she is truly unique and impossible to categorise. She is not only a musician but also a writer and artist, the literary focus breathes life into her music, which on listening to you will find many stories unfolding. Andrea’s first musical project was the dark ambient ‘Aghast’ whose sole album ‘Hexerei im Zwielicht der Finsternis’ is one I really must track down. From there she recorded several albums as Haglaz Runedance before a rebirth in 2004 saw her as Nebelhexë and releasing the excellent ‘Laguz – Within The Lake’ that year and ‘Essensual’ in 2006, 2 albums with pride of place in my CD collection. ‘Dead Waters’ the third offering will most certainly be joining them when upgraded from the digital format that we are plagued with in this day and age.
Potted history over and I am yet to give you a clue what Nebelhexë sounds like musically. Well that is a difficult one I certainly could not draw comparisons to anyone else apart from perhaps Joolz (Denby) musician poet and now critically acclaimed author who could perhaps have similarities mentioned as having trod a similar path in Bradford to this Norwegian lady.
‘Again The Wall’ starts the album with a simple drum beat and guitar chord, the first thing that strikes is just how natural and organic the music sounds. Then the vocals join in and as mentioned are completely unique. I would have to say listen to them yourself for a real idea but for some reason I always get the impression of a Red Indian when listening to her. Apparently lots of Texas snake beer was drunk during the composition of the album so that only goes to enforce this notion. One could be lazy and mention other alternative artists from Kate Bush to Laurie Anderson and the second I write these words the song ends with a laugh and the words “and you know what, I don’t care,” kind of summing this all up. ‘Skindeep’ serves up more simplistic instrumentation that if anything just breathes around the vocals like a gentle wind, vocals themselves here are a bit of a chant with a ritualistic feel about them. It is easy to get caught up in things and let it all flow over you.
I will not go into the vocal themes, there is some explanation although not an in depth one on the artists website, much is up for your own interpretation. Things are spiritual and mystical and involve deep thought and even higher learning, something that has meant Nebelhexë has in the past been “attacked for being too complex.” Digital Sleep’ with chants of Break The Door Down’ goes from slumbering to spell casting in one fast swipe, again there is a really ritualistic flow going on here, it is almost as though a spell of banishment is being performed. The title track has an Arabian vibe about it, again calm and gentle but giving the impression these ‘Dead Waters’ could suddenly revive and overpower if you turned your back on them. The sound of rain falls on ‘In My Dreams I Am Free’ and lyrics are poetically spoken to the ebb and flow of strings. I have been listening to this a lot late in the day and it is certainly an album to take you into the dreamtime.
There is plenty to enjoy here and if you have never heard Nebelhexë before check out the links below and see if her music is for you. It is neither designed for everyone and certainly not for any mass consumption but if it does work for you it’s a wonderful realm to find yourself in.
http://www.nebelhexe.com
http://www.myspace.com/nebelhexe
