Algiz – Claire-Voie (1998)

Country: Belgium

Tracklist

1. Claire-Voie 01:22
2. Sans Titre 05:34
3. Dehors, La Plénitude I 04:21
4. Dehors, La Plénitude II 06:00
5. Les Heures Aveugles 04:46
6. Les Seigneurs Des Sentiers 05:16
7. Organique 04:58
8. La Chaise (Sur L'Eau) 04:34
9. Fall Apart 04:03
10. Fin De Siècle? 04:17

Algiz was a Belgian neofolk band featuring Leïla Janssens, Jean-François Brohée,

Pierre Kivits, Stéphane Vandezande and Alexandra Debert on additional cello parts.

In 1996 they recorded their first and only album "Claire-Voie" that was co-produced

by Sol Invictus' leader Tony Wakeford and released in 1998 on his own Tursa label.
Strong female vocals in French, haunting ethereal melodies, beautiful weaving strings and cello parts 

compose the structure of the album that also contains a great cover of Death In June's song "Fall Apart".

 
Memory

The Thieves Of Impressions – Trifolium: The Autumn Catharsis (7'' EP 1994)

 

Country: Germany

Tracklist

1. Changes 06:13
2. Leszerazz Galliard 05:42
3. Autumn 02:05

Short lived project formed in 1993 and led by author Aleš Pickar

 who together with Stefan Alt (aka Salt) were the two founders of the cult label Ant-Zen.
The band gathered many members among their releases featuring Aleš Pickar (keys, bass, drums, guitar, vocals, flute),

Erich Kogler (vocals, bass, piano), Katha (vocals), Peter Megele (guitar), Sirod Allabmort (vocals),

Uli Jenne (drums), Wolfgang Hierl (guitars, vocals, flute, keys) and Pia Horn (violin).
The Thieves Of Impressions later reshaped into the band Concrescence 

while Aleš Pickar, together with Brandon Gonsalves, was also involved with the ambient project Tidal Flow.

Memory

Ordo Equilibrio – The Triumph Of Light... And Thy Thirteen Shadows Of Love (1997)

Country: Sweden

Tracklist

1. Victory Starts Here, In The Land Of Completion 06:49
2. Walpurgisnacht In The Grotto. Dancing With Lilith 06:45
3. Marching Across The Stupid And Ignorant 05:09
4. Thou Cannot Love Them All, When The Trumpet Sounds 04:42
5. Entering The Masturbatory /Luxuria My Rubber Angel 05:01
6. This Absolute Supper, Second Consecration 04:13
7. Carnival (Festivity In Flesh) 05:26
8. Invocation Ov Prosperity, Pleasure, Progress And Love 05:03
9. Under The Rose, Coitus Excelsi. Pain, Bondage & Subjugation 03:56
10. After Reign Cometh Sun 03:33
11. Living By The Sword. Dying By The Sword. The Lustrous Banquet 04:26
12. Untitled (Silence) 10:58
13. And So Forth.... 01:13

The inspiration to initiate an individual project occurred during Tomas Pettersson's involvement in Archon Satani,

as Mikael Stavöstrand (the other half of Archon Satani) decided to form his side project Inanna.
But Ordo Equilibrio awaited to originate until May of 1993 as Tomas decided to abandon his participation in Archon Satani 

by reason of several insignificant inconsistencies pertaining to the bands current status and continuing progress.

According to Tomas: "Ordo Equilibrio's primary purpose was to serve as the aesthetic

and creative outlet for a multitude of ideas, aesthetics, ambitions and ideals.

And which still remains the primary objective of the foundation today."
The project was initially called Ordo Equilibrio and Tomas was joined on vocals by Chelsea Krook, his then-girlfriend.

Together from 1995 to 1998 they recorded three full length albums and one 7" EP.
In 2000 the band had a change in line-up as Chelsea Krook was replaced by Rose-Marie Larsen.
This also spawned a change in the bandname to Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio.
In 2008 Fredrik Leijström and Ronnie Bäck joined the band on bass and guitar

followed by Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe on percussions in 2014.
Under the Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio moniker the band has released eight albums and one split with Spiritual Front.

Memory

Scorpion Wind – Heaven Sent (1996)

Country: Unites States / England / Australia

Tracklist

1. Love Love Love (Equilibrium)    03:55
2. Preserve Thy Loneliness 04:42
3. In Vino Veritas 04:29
4. Paradise Of Perfection 06:29
5. Roasted Cadaver 03:51
6. The Cruelty Of The Heavens 08:12
7. There Is No More Sleep 04:58
8. Some Colossus 04:49
9. The Path Of The Cross 04:04
10. Never 13:19
11. Message 01:01
12. Funeral For 3 13:11
13. A Toast 00:13

"Heaven Sent" was a collaboration album between Boyd Rice, Douglas Pearce (Death In June)

and the percussionist John Murphy (July 11, 1959 - October 11, 2015, ex-SPK, ex-The Associates, ex-Current 93),

with the help of the Strength Through Joy duo (Timothy Jenn - Richard Leviathan) and Campbell Finley on trumpet,

recording under the name Scorpion Wind, released in 1996 on NER.

The album consists of Boyd Rice's spoken-word lyrics on subjects ranging from Social Darwinism to alcohol

with backing music in various styles, including lounge and neofolk.
Recorded in Australia prior to the pair (Boyd / Douglas) starring in the cult film "Pearls Before Swine", 

it is a unique, melodic and richly orchestrated ode to the decay of civilization and the death of heroes and gods.
In 2007 Nerus digitally remastered the album and re-released it on CD format

including two extra tracks from the era with new artwork, presented in a red and black foil-blocked softpak.

Memory

Forseti – Jenzig (1999)

 

Country: Germany

Tracklist

1. Gesang Der Jünglinge 04:19
2. Am Abend 02:28
3. Heilige Welt 05:20
4. Abschied 01:39
5. Wolfszeit 02:53
6. Erlkönig 04:20
7. Jenzig 02:18
8. Jenzig II 04:38

Forseti was a German neofolk band formed in Jena in 1997 by Andreas Ritter.
The band is known for its musical settings of German romantic poetry and mythology.
Forseti's music style is built around the acoustic guitar but also involves instruments such as accordion, cello, horn and flute. Ritter has mentioned Leonard Cohen and Johnny Cash as important musical influences.
 Forseti debuted in 1999 with the 10" album "Jenzig", released by Eis Und Licht label.
"Jenzig" established Andreas Ritter's literary interests with musical settings of Ludwig Uhland's "Gesang Der Jünglinge"

and Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe's "Erlkönig".
Ritter's interests were also present in references to 18th and 19th century poets such as Eduard Mörike,  

Joseph Freiherr Von Eichendorff, Matthias Claudius, Friedrich Schiller and Friedrich Hölderlin,

but also 20th-century writers such as Paul Celan and Friedrich Dürrenmatt.
Later in 2002 "Jenzig" was re-released on CD format featuring the the bonus track "Jenzig II"

that was recorded in 2000 and previously released on the "Lichttaufe - Der Folklore Liedschatz" compilation.
The band's second album "Windzeit" was released in 2002 and includes poems by Hermann Hesse and Ricarda Huch.
It also features two song with lyrics by Uwe Nolte of the band Orplid and guest performances

from members of the band Sonne Hagal and from Douglas P. of Death In June.
In 2004 Forseti released its third and final album "Erde".

"Erde" includes covers of songs by Sonne Hagal and Orplid and guest performances

from the Ukrainian opera singer Andrey Kulinich, B'eirth of the band In Gowan Ring,

Kim Larsen of Of the Wand & The Moon and Ian Read of Fire + Ice.
At the time of its release, Ritter described it as possibly the final chapter in this style of nature poetry 

and said that he might move into something more historical or start to set older classics to music.
Unfortunately in May 2005, Ritter suffered a cardiac arrest which had serious consequences for his health.

To support him, a number of neofolk acts collaborated on the compilation album "Forseti Lebt" in 2006.
The proceeds from the album went to support Ritter.

Memory

Die Wappen Des Thodt – Seven (1998)

Country: Germany

Tracklist

1. Doors To Heaven 05:32
2. Seven 05:34
3. The Quiet 11:06
4. Rose Of Delight 05:29
5. Angel II (Sacred Version) 06:44
6. A Mystic Heart 05:48
7. Augen Durch Die Nacht 07:22

Die Wappen Des Thodt was a German band that was formed by Paul Hostia and Thorn Hoedh.
Their first appearance was on one track on the first Ordo Catharis Templi compilation in 1993 

entitled "Hermetisches Rosencreutz: Templum Comparatio" that was released through Unclean Productions 

and later was re-released through Dark Vinyl Records.
The German duo had already many projects and collaborations like Ordo Catharis Templi,  

  Hoedh, Hostia, Delysid, Helix 12, Moksha and Zoomorph.
In 1996 a limited edition 12" picture disc entitled "In Memoriam" was released.
"Seven" was released in 1998 through Dark Vinyl Records and was their first, and last, full length album.
Here the band incorporated operatic chants and stylized neoclassical sounds 
mixed with neofolk and ethereal/dark ambient atmospheres.
Thorn Hoedh passed away in 2003.

Memory

Black Raven – The Solitude Of Ravens (MCD 1997)

Country: Italy

Tracklist

1. Solitude Of Ravens 03:09
2. Solitude 03:06
3. III 03:41
4. IV 02:31
5. Macht 03:52

From the 1990 Angel G. Villani has created various musical jobs, including theatre and video works.
His first project was the classical-ambient band Agonije, that was discovered and produced by Marco Milanesio of DsorDNE.
In 1991 begins the collaboration with Marco Milanesio and between 1991 and 1994 
he participates in the Festival Young Cinema of Turin with his works of experimental video.
In 1994 Agonije released their first cd Testament, produced and distributed by the Swiss label of contemporary music 
Ar-Goat / Allegoria Rec. while Villani gives live performances in Italy and Switzerland in collaboration with Kor-At.
In 1997 the same label, publishes the cd of his new project Black Raven entitled The Solitude Of Ravens, 
composed with the American musician Michael Todd.
After that Villani begins his collaboration with Claudio Ottavi Fabbrianesi, musician and director of theater and cinema 
and together they produce the video-installation: Figura Umana of Agar Teatro, 
a job inspired to the works of Francis Bacon and collaborates with Paola Bianchi and Paola Chiama.
In 2007 he finishes the project: En-d-Core, initiated to Mexico City and he meets Peter Greenaway. 
He also creates in Barcelona the video-installations Esperar and Blues For Derek, 
with the latter one being inspired by the jobs of Derek Jarman and William S. Burroughs.
He currently works between Turin and Barcelona.

Memory

Lady Morphia ‎– Pangæa (MCD 1998)

 Country: England

Tracklist

1. My Kingdom 04:08
2. The Quest 03:59
3. Mysteries I Now Accept 05:07
4. Acies: Terra 04:40
5. The Onward March Of Destiny 03:23

Lady Morphia effectively began life in 1996 with the release of the five track cassette, "Tales From The Surgical Ward". 

Its nucleus consists of two brothers, Nick and Chris Nedzynski. 

Taking their name from a line in a poem by Robert Graves, the project’s debut embodied the initial realization of ideas 

with which founding member and multi-instrumentalist Nick Nedzynski had toyed since 1991.

From the days of the act’s earliest demos to its present compact discs, 

Lady Morphia’s music has always reflected the conflict between an imperfect world and the desire to transcend temporality.

To date, Lady Morphia have released two cassettes, one MCD 

as well as two critically acclaimed full-length albums, "Recitals To Renewal" and "Essence And Infinity". 

The band have also produced collaborative works with other artists, and have made contributions to various compilations.

Memory

Nature And Organisation – Beauty Reaps The Blood Of Solitude (1994)

Country: England

Tracklist

1. Introduction 02:54
2. Wicker Man Song 04:33
3. Blood Of Solitude I 01:17
4. Bloodstreamruns 04:38
5. My Black Diary 05:26
6. Tears For An Eastern Girl 05:41
7. Beauty Destroyed 01:34
8. Skeletontonguedworld 03:01
9. Obsession Flowers As Torture 01:51
10. Blood Of Solitude II 01:52
11. Bonewhiteglory 09:46

Nature And Organisation was formed by English composer and musician Michael Cashmore in the early 80's. 

The music of the band is characterized by a mix of acoustic, classical 

and folk structures met with abrasive electronic instrumentation.
Cashmore has also been a member of the group Current 93 since the late 1980s 

and wrote most of the music after the departure of Douglas Pearce in the 1990s.
For several years he had been experimenting with a mix of acoustic instruments, tape recorders and super 8mm film 

and in 1983 the name Nature And Organisation was first used for a small series of live performances and recordings. 

The recording of early material was primarily made using a 4 track tape machine 

with only a small ammount of works recorded in professional studios. 

It was only much later, in 1994, that the first proper release was made available. 

This was the album "Beauty Reaps The Blood Of Solitude" which featured vocals and texts by Douglas Pearce,  

David Tibet, Rose McDowall and also Steven Stapleton on guitars. 

This was followed in the same year by the 4 track EP "A Dozen Summers Against The World".
After joining Current 93 Nature And Organisation became more of a side project for Cashmore 

and the final album "Death In A Snow Leopard Winter", a collection of instrumental pieces, was released in 1998.

Memory

Terra Serpentes (1997)

Label: World Serpent

Tracklist

Disk 1

1. Arkkon – T 2901E 06:04
2. Martyn Bates – Bahnhofstrasse 02:28
3. Chris & Cosey – One Minute More (Serpent Mix) 05:09
4. Coil – Heartworms 07:14
5. Current 93 – Frolicking 07:50
6. Bryin Dall – May You Never Be Alone Like Me 03:07
7. Death In June Presents Kapo! – Only Europa Knows 06:01
8. Roger Doyle – Dark Scenery Court Games 07:12
9. Elijah's Mantle – Wise Words Of Eve 09:57
10. In Gowan Ring – Still Water Bonne 07:05
11. Lemon Kittens – What The Cat Brought In 02:19
12. Loretta's Doll – Love Is Regret 04:26
13. The Moon Lay Hidden Beneath A Cloud – Untitled 04:35

Disk 2

1. Nature And Organisation – By A Foreign River (The Longing For Mercy And Happiness) 04:33
2. Neither/Neither World – All's God's Dogs 05:01
3. Nurse With Wound – Window Of Possible Organic Development 08:47
4. Orchis – Come Unto Me 05:01
5. The Boyd Rice Experience – Music From The Movie Pearls Before Swine 04:12
6. Sand – On The Corner (Alternative Version) 05:20
7. Death In June Presents Scorpion Wind – Some Colossus 04:51
8. Shock Headed Peters – Oblivion Extract 10:40
9. Sol Invictus – Did You See 04:48
10. Somewhere In Europe – Oblique Realities 05:36
11. Strength Through Joy – Ways To Strength And Beauty 07:02
12. Tiny Tim – The Garden Of Your Heart, Turn Back The Universe, 
You Can't Get Loving Where There Ain't Any Love, A Thousand Love Songs 05:35
13. Zone – The Scavenging Soul 04:50

World Serpent Distribution was a British record label and music distribution house formed in the late 80s 

and was co-owned by David Gibson, Alan Trench and Alison Webster.
 Douglas Pearce of Death In June coined the company name in 1991, 

World Serpent being another name for Jormungandr.
 World Serpent was well known for distributing music by many post-industrial, apocalyptic folk, neofolk, 

avant-garde and otherwise esoteric or experimental artists, such as Death In June (through NER), 

Current 93 (through Durtro), Sol Invictus (through Tursa), Coil (through Threshold House),
Nurse With Wound (through United Dairies), Zone (through Potentia), Elijah's Mantle (through De Nova Da Capo), 

Orchis (through Cryptanthus), Ozymandias (through Ramses Records) and many others.

Many of these artists also ended up collaborating with or being influenced by one another, 

causing the World Serpent name to become synonymous with many of the artists and labels 

distributed through the company during the early 1990s.
World Serpent also functioned as a label, although they released very few records on their own. 

The vast majority of the releases they distributed were on other labels & imprints.
In August 2004 World Serpent went bankrupt and was no longer operating.

Memory

Strength Through Joy – The Force Of Truth And Lies (1995)

Country: Australia

Tracklist

1. The Force Of Truth And Lies 05:40
2. Master And Slave 05:00
3. Rosin Dubh 05:53
4. The Blond Beast 02:34
5. The Bridge 05:04
6. Absolute Power 03:45
7. The Force Of Truth And Lies (Instrumental) 05:33
8. A Grave For Burning Wings 04:03
9. Life's Absurdity 04:19

Strength Through Joy was founded in Adelaide, Australia in 1991 
by bassist Timothy Jenn and vocalist Richard Leviathan.
After cutting a short demo of dark folk material, the band wrote to Death in June leader 
Douglas Pearce to ask his permission to send a demo to him. 
Pearce responded affirmatively and then pointed out that he actually lived 
only a little more than 10 kilometers down the road from them.
Upon their meeting, Pearce agreed to produce Strength Through Joy’s first album.
In 1994, Strength Through Joy released a single on vinyl called Dark Rose that featured three songs.
Later that same year, Pearce produced Strength Through Joy’s first full-length album, The Force Of Truth And Lies.
The song A Grave For Burning Wings features Douglas Pearce that actually sings and plays acoustic guitar.
The band released their second album in 1996 called Salute To The Light before disbanding.
In 2000 Jenn and Leviathan formed Ostara taking their music towards a more pop oriented direction.

Memory

Paul Giovanni – The Wicker Man (1998)

Composer: Paul Giovanni

Tracklist

1. Corn Rigs 02:35
2. The Landlord's Daughter 02:37
3. Gently Johnny 03:32
4. Maypole 02:43
5. Fire Leap 01:26
6. The Tinker Of Rye 01:50
7. Willow's Song 04:40
8. Procession 02:15
9. Chop Chop 01:41
10. Lullaby 00:57
11. Festival / Mirie It Is / Sumer Is A-Cumen In 04:29
12. Opening Music / Loving Couples / The Ruined Church 04:13
13. The Masks / The Hobby Horse 01:25
14. Searching For Rowan 02:22
15. Appointment With The Wicker Man 01:18
16. Sunset 01:05

The Wicker Man is a 1973 British horror film directed by Robin Hardy and written by Anthony Shaffer.
The soundtrack was composed, arranged and recorded by Paul Giovanni and Magnet 
and contains folk songs performed by characters in the film (including some by members of the cast).
Magnet was formed for the purpose of recording the music to the movie.
The band was assembled by musician Gary Carpenter (the film's Associate Musical Director) 
and also featured Giovanni on guitar and vocals for many tracks and appeared in the film in various scenes.
The songs were arranged to hint at a pre-Christian pagan European culture 
and vary between traditional songs and original Giovanni compositions.
The instrumental parts of the score are based on traditional Scottish, Irish, and English tunes.
The soundtrack was unavailable until a 1998 release on Trunk Records of a mono album dubbed from the music 
and effects tapes at Pinewood Studios, from the shorter original cut of the film. 
It was not until 2002 that Silva Screen Records released a stereo version using cues from the tape held by Gary Carpenter, mixed with recordings from the first Trunk Records release.
A live performance of the soundtrack at the 30th annual Brosella Folk Festival in Brussels, on 8 July 2006,
 underlined the cult status of the film and its music.

Memory

Backworld ‎– Anthems From The Pleasure Park (1999)

Country: United States

Tracklist

1. Of Seven Things 02:33
2. Leaves Of Autumn 03:44
3. Pleasure Park 03:33
4. Flowers Of Passion 04:09
5. The Devil's Plaything 04:11
6. Sirens Of Titan 04:04
7. Destroying Angel 02:34
8. Lake Of Ice 03:20
9. After The Fall 04:14
10. Magick Is Love 04:31
11. In The Beginning Was The End 03:59
12. The Shadow Of Eden 04:59
13. The Naked Soul 03:56
14. Bed Of Stone 02:57

Joseph Budenholzer grew up in Nebraska, immersed in the rural lore and religious traditions of the region.

As a boy he attended parochial school where he was taught by nuns to play guitar for folk Mass.
Backworld was formed in 1993 owing to Budenholzer’s growing passion for English folk music,

 minimalist classical composition, Christian mysticism, and a desire to make music that could reflect these interests 

and hopefully be as spiritual and beautiful.
Guest performers on BW albums have included Jarboe of Swans and Michael Cashmore of Current 93.
In 2006 Joseph returned to NYC after three years living in Scotland where he recorded the bulk of 'Good Infection'

 released in 2007, enlisting the talents of Isobel Campbell (Belle & Sebastian, Gentle Waves),

 David Tibet (Current 93) and Drew McDowall (Coil).
Other notable collaborations include playing in Current 93 and co-writing and producing the Little Annie album

 "Songs from the Coal Mine Canary" with Antony Hegarty (Antony and The Johnsons).
Anthems from the Pleasure Park combines masterful sound arrangement, very pretty melodies and brilliant yet melancholy songwriting to bring you a musical delight. Featuring as guests Jarboe, Michael Moynihan and Annabel Lee.

Memory

Fire + Ice ‎– Gilded By The Sun (1992)

Country: England

Tracklist

1. The Horseman's Word 00:43
2. Long Lankin 04:51
3. Corpus Christi 03:57
4. Ljósálfar 05:26
5. Fire Above 03:03
6. Sir John Barleycorn 04:01
7. Blood On The Snow 05:15
8. Basilisk Abode 04:54
9. Gilded By The Sun 06:25
10. Long Lankin Threshing 04:18

Ian Read founded Fire + Ice in 1991. Gilded By The Sun is his debut CD, originally issued on Douglas P.'s NER label.
Read was already familiar to many for his work on Current 93's "Swastikas For Noddy" and Death In June's "Brown Book", later forming Sol Invictus with Tony Wakeford. 

The album is a mixing of some of Ian's songs with a selection of traditional folk songs. 

Most of them are acoustic based, with some exceptions. The music reflects Read's keen interests in magic lore, runes, tradition, renaissance medievalism, Nordic mysticism and other esoteric and occult mysteries.
His work as Fire + Ice have had a large amount of influence on neofolk music.
Some of those who have appeared on Fire + Ice albums are: Michael Cashmore, Michael Moynihan,

 Annabel Lee, Joseph Budenholzer, Douglas Pearce and Freya Aswynn.

Memory

Death In June – But, What Ends When The Symbols Shatter? (1992)

Country: England

Tracklist

1. Death Is The Martyr Of Beauty 03:50
2. He's Disabled 04:08
3. The Mourner's Bench 02:31
4. Because Of Him 03:46
5. Daedalus Rising 04:52
6. Little Black Angel 04:18
7. The Golden Wedding Of Sorrow 03:36
8. The Giddy Edge Of Light 05:07
9. Ku Ku Ku 01:52
10. This Is Not Paradise 05:27
11. Hollows Of Devotion 03:29
12. But, What Ends When The Symbols Shatter? 03:15

In this album, the early more industrial influences of Death In June are gone 

and have been replaced with a more acoustic-neofolk sound.

With the participation,among the others, of David Tibet and Michael Cashmore.
A genre-defining album that sets the standard for todays neofolk bands.

Memory

Changes – Fire Of Life (1996)

Country: United States

Tracklist

    1. Fire Of Life 04:19           
    2. Sweet Eve 03:04      
    3. Bleeding Out Your Feelings Evermore 03:41      
    4. The Saddest Thing 02:14      
    5. Early Morning Hours Of The Night 02:38      
    6. Memorabilia 04:23      
    7. Horizons That I See 03:17       
    8. Satanic Hymn #2 00:54       
    9. R.I.P. Van Winkle's Pipe Dream 03:20       
    10, The Stranger In The Mirror (Pt. 3) 03:56      
    11. Twilight Of The West 10:37

Fire Of Life contains analog open reel demo material from 1969 to 1974
remastered and reworked by Michael Moynihan and N. Taylor.
Amazing apocalyptic/dark folk band by cousins Robert N. Taylor and Nicholas Tesluk.
Based on acoustic guitar ballads, combined with dark lyrics covering lost love, 

existentialism and the death of the West.
A far cry from sixties hippie idealism!

Memory