Eerie Sounds Review : Hekate – “Die Welt der dunklen Gärten” (2011)

Label : Auerbach Tonträger/Prophecy Productions

Review by Luisa Mercier

Hekate is a German ensemble which delivers us a quite eerie Folk, Neoclassical sound mixing it with lyrics that draw from history, myths and legends. Some of them are inspired by nineteenth century (Romanticism and so on), others by the events that took place in the Middle Ages. The present album is inspired mostly by Romantic poetry as the reference in the title “Byronic Hero” might suggest and it is sung in three languages: English, German and French, even though the first two have a main role. The music can only be defined as sweeping, dreamy, thin and the effect is obtained through the use of several instruments: gongs, kettledrums, drums, percussive devices, hurdy-gurdy, guitars, glockenspiel together with keyboards. The vocals, courtesy of Axel and Susanne, are sometimes recited (“Byronic Hero”, “Jardin d’Anais”) and sometimes sung. This, combined with very effective duets (“In My Garden”), gives a further contribution to the journey that their music can create. They work really well together. Susanne‘s vocals are delicate, sweet, Axel ones are slightly harsher and sometimes gloomier and create an hypnotizing effect. “Sanctus” is a beautiful hymn and shows the mystical side of the band. The Latin and the part spoken in Italian give to the whole composition a solemn atmosphere. Really epic. Another epic moment is “Per Aspera Ad Astra”, a beautiful symphonic instrumental which really sums up the idea of “Sturm und Drag”, the storm and the torment is really well portrayed in the composition. The more modern sounding is perhaps “Die blaue Blume” with an ethereal, electronic background pointed by keyboards while Susanne sings in German. It is quite different from the rest of the album and it is one of the highlight of the record, in my opinion.“Die Welt der dunklen Garten” is a really varied (and very well produced) album that cannot be fully grasped with only one listen; it is multifaceted since it contains folk, atmospheric, sometimes a more modern sound. Let it accompany you in your most relaxing moments after a tiresome day.

Rating – 75/100

Tracklist

1. Byronic Hero 
2. Jardin d’ Anaïs 
3. In my Garden 
4. Seelenreise
5. Sanctus 
6. Die dunkle Wolke
7. Per aspera ad astra
8. Idilia Dubb
9. Oh du Welt der dunklen Gärten
10. Opportunity of Time
11. The Present Day
12. Die blaue Blume 
13. House of God 

Line Up

• Susanne Grosche – Vocals
• Axel Menz – Vocals & Percussions 
• Achim Weiler – Keyboards
• Jörg Schickerath – Percussions
• Dirk Diederich – Drums
• Jörg Schickerath – Percussions

Links

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