Álfheimr by Secret Archives of the Vatican
Here’s a video for a tune from our recent Halls of Stone album.
Álfheimr
In Norse cosmology, Álfheimr (Old Norse spelling) , “land of the elves” is also called Ljosalfheim “home of the light-elves”. In the 12th century Prose Edda Gylfaginning, Snorri Sturluson says it is the first of a series of abodes in heaven: “That which is called Álfheim is one, where dwell the peoples called ljósálfar (light elves); but the dökkálfar [dark elves] dwell down in the earth, and they are unlike in appearance, but by far more unlike in nature. The light-elves are fairer to look upon than the sun, but the dark-elves are blacker than pitch.”
Halls of Stone
The album Halls of Stone was written after we discovered the amazing music of artists such as Wardruna, Eldrim, Danheim, Agðir, Forndom, SKÁLD and others…we’ve found this music very inspirational. Check all these artists out if you haven’t heard the. They’re all different and all amazing.
New album release: Halls of Stone
Here’s our new album, Halls of Stone.
Vikings and dwarves
We grew up with science fiction and fantasy books, comics and films. Much fantasy is rooted in mythologies, legends and old religions of northern Europe in particular. The races of JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth, particularly elves and dwarves, were not derived from twee Victorian-era fairy tales but were drawn from Norse, Saxon, Celtic and Old English mythology and legends. With this collection of tunes, we’ve tried to capture a little of that legacy, exploring where ancient tales and modern fantasy share some common tropes. This collection works like an old fashioned album – you can listen right through from start to finish and it’ll take you on a journey.
Halls of Stone on Spotify
Our YouTube channel
Seven for the dwarf-lords in their halls of stone…
Here’s a video for a tune on our Halls of Stone album, release date 15 January 2021.
Seven Rings
This track features various drones, orchestral strings, middle eastern and Viking percussion, throat singing, a lyre and a Turkish ney flute. All out of a computer, as if by magic.
Seven Rings is where Norse mythology and JRR Tolkien meet. Tolkien‘s dwarves were very much rooted in the imagery and attributes of the dwarves or dark elves of Norse mythology.
Halls of Stone
The album Halls of Stone was written after we discovered the amazing music of artists such as Wardruna, Eldrim, Danheim, Agðir, Forndom, SKÁLD and others… We’re not trying to sound just like them or to be them but we find their music inspirational. Our own unique sound is still in there.
Winter is coming!
Here’s a track, Fimbul Vetur Er Að Koma, from our Halls of Stone album, release date 15 January 2021.
Halls of Stone
The album Halls of Stone was written after we discovered the amazing music of artists such as Wardruna, Eldrim, Danheim, Agðir, Forndom, SKÁLD and others… We’re not trying to sound just like them or to be them but we find their music inspirational. Our own unique sound is still in there, hopefully.
Fimbul Winter is Coming
This track features various Nordic and middle eastern drums, a Turkish ud, a medieval gittern, a lur, a kaval flute, some throat singing and some other sounds that can barely be described. All virtual, out of a computer.
Fimbul Vetur Er Að Koma
The title (Icelandic and I hope it is correct – used Google translate…) is a nod towards both Norse mythology and Game of Thrones. In Norse mythology, Fimbulvetr (or fimbulvinter), commonly rendered in English as Fimbulwinter, is the immediate prelude to the events of Ragnarök. It means “great winter”.
In Old English it is pronounced as Fifelwinter.
How we recorded Halls of Stone
Here’s a short video about how we recorded our Halls of Stone album, release date 15 January 2021.
New release: Rituals
Here’s our latest release, Rituals, released on Christmas Day 2020. Five tracks with a science fiction, futurist vision. One unusual aspect of this release is that we haven’t used a drum kit (sampled or otherwise)…we’ve used hand drums and frame drums only. We wanted an organic texture, future-tech but also rootsy.
Rituals – arriving 25 December
Excellent Sufi hip hop
There’s a lot of Sufi inspired music in the world but probably not a lot of Sufi hip hop. Jhalaak (meaning spark) is a most excellent collection of Indian and Pakistani-flavoured tunes that connects 13th century Sufi poetry with 21st century global bass grooves.
Chugge Khan, Salim Khan and Khete Khan are 19th generation Rajasthani musicians from the Manganiyar tradition who have teamed up with Canadian born Desi hip hop artist, multi-instrumentalist and composer, Ruby Singh (male despite the ambiguous first name). Here they have worked with well known producer DJ Adham Shaikh to create a dancefloor friendly nine track album that seamlessly merges Qawwali and hip hop beats with confident, accomplished vocals and rap.
Totally recommended. Available from Bandcamp.
Beats From The East! Long awaited new podcast episode…
Here’s a new podcast episode. It’s been a while! We have some particularly amazing tunes this time, including a new unreleased tune of our own.
Tracks
1 Secret Archives of the Vatican – Ritual For Star Drive Engage
2 Blvck Waves – Pharoah
3 Blvck Waves – Ramses
4 VFM Style – Bakara
5 Jhalaak – Challa/The Beloved Wanderer
6 Aya Metwalli – Matkhafsh Menni
7 Kaya Project – Beware The Drunken Master (Suduaya Remix)
8 Ges-E and Shandy – Kufiq
9 Celt Islam – Vendetta
https://secretarchivesofthevatican.bandcamp.com/
https://1001nightrecord.bandcamp.com/album/arabic-erreur
https://jhalaak.bandcamp.com/album/jhalaak
https://ma3azef.bandcamp.com/track/matkhafsh-menni
https://sebtaylor.bandcamp.com/album/remixed-body-mind-soul-pt-1
https://nasharecords.bandcamp.com/track/kufiq
https://earthcityrecordz1.bandcamp.com/track/vendetta
