Emma Mildenberger - Tour de Trance
(Garden Of Delights) Catalog no: CD127
Emma Mildenberger - Tour de Trance
(Garden Of Delights) Catalog no: CD127
From Aural Innovations #42 (Sept 2009)
Formed in the spring of 1977, Germany. This is a re-release of their classic
second album Tour de Trance. Emma Myldenberger are a magical, strange, and ambient
folk collective, who gave the often-rousing medieval music of Europe a new lease
of life back in the 70’s. At times it is like you are listening to the
soundtrack of an epic odyssey style film of the time. The sound is primitive
yet highly orchestral, and it conveys an almost unnatural ambience that places
you straight into the Medusa’s lair. It is enchanting to the ear and it
beautifully recorded. The sound is cinematic. It moves through gypsy styled
music, manic and highly energetic, yet at times the most emotionally sorrow
laden music you will ever here. It courts the folk music of Germany, sometimes
serious and stern, yet also poetic and fluent with a light heart under the harsh
accent of the language, as all lyrics are in the Germanic tongue.It is similar
in places to something that The Incredible String Band, Robin Williamson &
his Merry Band or The Amazing Blondel would conjure up musically, but I would
not say that they sound like The Amazing Blondel or The Incredible String Band,
as there is a more European sound to Emma Myldenberger than say the Amazing
Blondel, but with the use of Crum Horn as the melodic instrument, the resemblances
does lie there. I mention The Incredible String Band because the tracks are
crafted with strangeness about them, which is very reminiscent of The Hangman’s
Beautiful Daughter era Incredible String Band, yet this album is more cinematic
and conceptual than the aforementioned. So I would say that its Robin Williamson
& his Merry Band that comes closest to Emma Myldenberger’s sound out
of the three that I mentioned. It is said that this is one of the best psych
folk LP’s ever made! If not, it is up there with the best! Quality stuff.
Reviewed by Albert Pollard
Check out the Garden of Delights web site at: http://diregarden.com