Emma Myldenberger - Emma Myldenberger (1978)
Garden Of Delights CD 119
1. Narrentantz (2:30)
2. Oboenstück (3:56)
3. Emmarokkoko (6:59)
4. Unter der Linden (4:58)
5. Fraw Emma Myldenberger (3:35)
6. Opus IV (7:01)
7. Eines Morgens (4:35)
8. In meines Vaters Garten (4:41)
9. Colchiques (2:29)
10. Emma Myldenberger (Live) (4:00)
11. Ein Mädchen, das ins Wasser fällt (Live) (2:16)
12. Polka (Live) (1:53)
13. Sauflied (Live) (3:54)
Total: 52:47
Biography:
Emma Myldenberger have a unique sound, essentially acoustic, mixing various
elements from authentic pagan folk to medieval and psych-progressive rock. The
exact history behind this band is vague, admitting only a few indications. Their
first album was probably released in 1978. Musical themes are closed to ancient
music, ritualistic in nature. The instrumentation essentially refers to a nice
orchestration made of guitars, oboe, ocarina, mandolin, crumhorn, hand
percussions, with addition of a fragile female voice and an almost eastern-like
exoticism. Their second album called "Tour de trance" is considered to be one of
the most achieved psych-folk listenings. A very ambitious effort made of high
quality kraut-folk improvisations. After two releases the band formed the Radio
Noisz Ensemble (Third Ear Band, Between similar musical experiences).Garden of
Delight reissues contain some precious informations about the band short
history. An important document.
Review:
Emma Myldenberger is surely a group with its own unique sound. Emma
Myldenberger’s first album was published in 1978, in the time when Ougenweide
had gained a national success with their Walter Van Der Vogelweide-inspired
medieval folkrock. EM since 1977 had taken their music to an even further
developed degree of challenge, with longer, well worked out, and rather
improvisational instrumentals, taking the best of the 'older' music genres into
a contemporary folk context that was almost classical (music) in nature.Their
unique blend used hobo’s with handpercussion, acoustic guitars, violins and some
glockenspiel. It is thanks to this reissue that I had a second appreciation of
their first album. I remembered especially how good the second album was, and it
seemed I forgot about the greatness of this album. It sounds also much better
now with this remastered sound, compared to the inferior copy I had before.
Between several well-hanging-together instrumentals, fits well a medieval song
from Von Der Vogelweide, interpreted beautifully, with vocal and flute
arrangements and a fragile female voice. On "Opus IV" this instrumental piece
has parts of something psychedelic and semi-eastern, still embedded in a very
structured, classical arrangement. The eighth and officially last track of the
LP, "In Meines Vaters Garten" is the second song that has more acoustic guitar
leads, in combination with flute, violin and double bass. Luckily with the CD
reissue, the album does not end here. The beautiful French traditional
"Colchique", subtle folkrock (like early Gryphon a bit) was recorded around the
same time but didn't make it to the LP. The following bonus track is similarly
styled (which includes crumhorn, flutes,..) and comes from a good quality live
recording. The other three tracks from the same concert are happy folkrock, and
are less ambitious than the LP, but are surely good to hear and still enjoyable.
Like each CD of Garden Of Delights also this CD comes with an incredible booklet
of rare pictures, an extended biography and covers of all the related albums.
The second album of EM will be reissued later, together with an extra live
recording.
|
