CESAIR

First of all: I noticed that this band was playing a lot together with Rastaban and soon enough I found out that one of them was a previous member of L.E.A.F. (but due to lack of time and growing success of this band had to leave L.E.A.F.). I'm more than happy to review this one. To start with because of the lovely female voice, the nice sound and the fact that they really did a great job in the studio! I also love the artwork of the album, it's very inspiring! They used great instruments like a bodhran, zills, accordeon, a hammered dulcimer, a hurdy-gurdy, violins, viola, Jewish harp, Irish bouzouki, djembé...

The prologue was already very promising, but once 'Enuma Elish' starts you'll be sold, like I was! The Tsigane touch is nice, just as the warm female voice and the Arabic music (could be some other influence tough). I love the violins too! Seems to talk about an old Babylonian Creation myth. 'Minnic Soe Stervic' starts very minimal, a bit of a musical tone, female voice singing softly and some Japanese instrument (once again: I might be wrong). It all sounds a bit like some sad Japanese story (I'm a Naruto fan and recognize some of it, at least for the first part of the song). After a while it gets a more folky and more festive sound, like dancing around a campfire. The strange Slavic singing really enchants you, but it's a Middle Dutch poem! Love the accordion in it! 'Graeica' reminded me a bit of Daemonia Nymphe and it is indeed an ancient Greek song! Love the sound and the whole atmosphere! A great one! 'Mal Casada' starts softly with an accordion and then changes into the Iberian song that it is, even sung in the native language and with a lovely violin. It's clear that this band can take on every language they want and work out a great song in the tradional Folk style! The end is a real party, almost clapping automatically my hands! What a party! Olé!

'Ishtar' has nothing to do with the one we send to the Eurosong festival (at least I hope so), this song somehow reminds me a bit of Inkubbus Sukkubus, but then with a folky sound. Love the guest vocals of Sonja Drakulich! It's really a mesmerizing song! So wonderful and sweet, I feel like having a sugar boost!

'Bergatrollets Friari' starts with a scary sound, as if something bad is going to happen, like in the movie 'The Gladiator' when a complete family will die. It's a Swedish traditional with a sad ending and that is the vibe during the whole song! A great catch!

'Du Som Har' is yet another Swedish Traditional, a nice ballad this time with a very melancholic feel. Recalling the feelings that once have een, but were never answered. The voice is that of a nightingale, soft, cherishing and painfully lovely.

'Canso' is a 14th-century Occitan song, love the violin in it, just as the lovely voice and the tribal and festival sound!

'The Wandering of Oison' is an Irish Folk Story and it gets the right musical sound for it, well worked out. I can see people dance on it!

'Atiny Naya' is based on an Arabic Poem written by Kahlil Gibran and that's been perfectly reflected by the music. The voice gets a deeper sound and the violin gets once again an important part! I think that this one can grow out to be an important song on stage, as it gets a nice and more energetic ending, throwing you into a dance that gets faster and faster until you fall to the ground, completely out of breath! Pure ecstasy!

'Dies, Nox Et Omnia', the title track is a Latin and Old French Medieval Poem with a very dream wave kind of a sound in the beginning, until the song breaks open and becomes a more animated song with a very sad feeling. The sweet melancholy makes you forget about the lyrics and draws you into the heavenly chant, the great percussion and dito violin!

'Y Gododdin' is a 7th-Century Middle Welsh Poem by Aneirin, a nice lamentation over the deaths of the slain warriors at the Battle of Catraeth. It's a beautiful song to end with, despite the lamentation! The singing make sit so sweet.

I can't do more but to use the repeat button and believe me, it has been running the whole weekend! I hope this band gets booked more at plays at all great festivals this summer and yes: they'll play also next year during the Trolls et Légendes at Mons!

Here you find an overview of what can be found on our website about The Trolls et Légendes-Festival 2015:

Trolls et Légendes VI

Friday:

Naheulband (f), Feuerschwanz (d), La Horde (b)

Interview with Naheulband

Interview Feuerschwanz

album review Feuerschwanz

interview La Horde

Saturday:

Eluveitie (ch), Tanzwut (d), Huldre (dk), Nook Karavan (b)

Promo links:

interview Eluveitie

album review Eluveitie

live pics Eulveitie

live review Eluveitie

album review Tanzwut Freitag der 13.

album review Tanzwut (Eselmesse)

Tanzwut interview

album review Huldre

Huldre interview

interview Nook Karavan

Sunday:

Corvus Corax (d), Rastaban (b), Cuélebre (sp), Cesair (nl)

Promo links:

interview Corvus Corax

album review Corvus Corax

interview Rastaban

album review Rastaban

interview Cuélebre

album review Cuélebre

interview Cesair at Trolls

album review Cesair

These bands will play during daytime:

interview Acus Vacuum

Interview Gny

A great compilation:

La Guilde Folk - Wild Folk Pagan VOL III with Cesair, Rastaban, Cuèlebre … Click here

A great initiative, thinking out of the box and showing a pure heart. Let politics out of it and see for yourself … sound cloud is included … Thx a lot for your input!

http://www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/reviews/folk-for-the-people-folk-for-the-people-a-benefit-compilation-for-the-victims-of-repression-in-ukraine/

Filip VAN MUYLEM
09/02/2014