This is the second album by Ever Orchid that I have heard and it is described as pre PHD research to ‘Musica Humana’ looking into “the sense that singing can be used as an instrument which is tuned with the whole human body in resonance, mind soul and spirit.” As you can guess this is a rather different listening experience for us here but we would like to think that our readers are as we are, interested in something experimental, ethereal and intriguingly different from any current musical conventions. The idea of music being used as a form of mental stimulus and even therapy is not a new one and the ‘sound environment’ has been used as a medium both to relieve stress and anxiety in general (think those hippy new wave whale music tapes) as well as more seriously and scientifically for the treatment of hospitalized patients recovering from trauma.
I am kind of drawn to something perhaps yet to be made by David Cronenberg with this, it is an ideology that would be very interestingly put into his filmic oeuvre, but perhaps I am going off tangent here.
Ever has a gorgeous voice with a vast range behind it. At times her language reminds of fairy speak, partly alien but totally bewitching and magickal. It is often soothing but can also have a bite to it as it becomes more strident. As for the ‘music’ per-se there is none really to talk about, this strikes as the complete opposite to an instrumental album. Ambient and field sounds are used to interact with the vocals but this is all about the voice itself. You may hear sounds of nature, the ticking of a clock or a gentle piece of piano, a tambourine in the background but it is the rich and harmonious vocal tones that this centres on. Having said that, one thing that really is important is that the production and acoustics need to be spot on and they are, everything is replicated with fantastic clarity adding to the impact and the lushness of the 14 pieces.
The name of both the album and the tracks are also very interesting and again somewhat arcane, archaic and ethereal. Luckily I received a file with further insight to symbolism and meanings. ‘Anemonads’ for example are air elementals. Other titles reference everything from ‘Horologium’ both a constellation and Latin for clock and other themes explore Greek mythology, ancient people and civilisations, it is all painstakingly researched and involving.
With the exception of the opening piece which is a re-interpretation ‘O Fortuna’ from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, these compositions are all Ever’s own and as an album this stands in its own right as a very beguiling listen that goes beyond its remit and can be enjoyed by any listener. As far as specifically designing it for a PHD it certainly deserves to be taken incredibly seriously as she has put heart and soul into this. Still you could be wondering exactly what it all sounds like and yes for once it is very difficult to put into mere words and the best way I can answer that question is to tell you to listen yourself.
http://www.myspace.com/everorchid
http://www.last.fm/music/Ever+Orchid/Anemonadic
