Name: Mirabilis *
Brand: Nettwerk America
SKU: 281241
Availability: OutOfStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

Performer Notes

Medival Bbes: Marie Findley, Rachel Van Asch, Carl J. Magnusson (vocals); Dru Masters (electric guitar, zither, trumpet); Pike Galloway (E-bow, zither); Stephen Yates (cittern, sitar); Katharine Blake (recorder, jingles); Maple Bee (recorder); Nick Marsh (bass instrument); Vince Johnson (drums); Ruth Galloway, Teresa Casella, Andrew Blick, Emily Ovenden, Cylindra Sapphire , Audrey Evans, Sally Herbert, Graham Henderson, Calina de la Mare, Sally Ward, Andy Nice.
Personnel: Katharine Blake (vocals, descant, zither, violin, soprano recorder, keyboards, shaker, tambourine, bells); Emily Ovenden (vocals, concertina, bass recorder); Maple Bee (vocals, soprano recorder, tenor recorder, bass recorder); Audrey Evans (vocals, harmonium); Marie Findley (vocals, background vocals); Teresa Casella, Rachel Van Asch (vocals); Ruth Galloway (chant, acoustic guitar, autoharp, recorder, bass recorder); Nick Marsh (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar, double bass); Steve Yates (acoustic guitar, cittern, hurdy-gurdy, oud, saz, sitar); Pike Galloway (E-bow, zither); Graham Henderson (dulcimer); Sally Herbert, Calina de la Mare (violin); Sally Ward (viola); Andy Nice (cello); Andrew Blick (trumpet); Cylindra Sapphire (Mellotron); Mike Servant (keyboards); Vince Johnson (drums, finger cymbals, tabla, tambourine, percussion); Carl J. Magnusson (percussion).
Audio Mixers: Bob Raushaar; Bob Kraushaar.
Recording information: Konk Studios, London, England; Panic Studios, London, England.
Photographer: Piers Atkinson.
Translators: Carl J. Magnusson; Robert M. Durling; Gareth Williams.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Ruth Galloway; Audrey Evans.
Arrangers: Ruth Galloway; Maple Bee; Katharine Blake; Carl J. Magnusson; Audrey Evans; Emily Ovenden; Rachel Van Asch; Steve Yates .
The Mediaeval Baebes combine elements of Western European myth and folkloric tradition with linguistic fancy and overdone sensualism. An example of the latter: in photos the octet will stand at the threshold of a leafy green forest, like an artisan's glistening porcelain figurines fashioned to please the provincial lord. On the other hand they'll perform in haunting a cappella, singing in Middle English, archaic Latin and Italian, Cornish, or even Manx, a unique Gaelic dialect originally spoken on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. So the Baebes are a study in contrasts, their work running fluidly between past and present. Mirabilis continues that conversation, collecting folk ballads, pagan dance music, ancient love songs, and parcels of pure mystery. Where some earlier albums emphasized synths and worldbeat textures too much -- whether as a crossover tactic or at the whim of a producer -- Mirabilis is happy with its zithers and recorders, finger cymbals and glockenspiels, and above all features voice. When a keyboard does surface ("Kilmeny"), it's as a mood accompanist. Opener "Star of the Sea" feels too much like a single, its Medieval English lilt too "period film" obvious. But the Baebes are better with something like "San'c Fuy Bellha Ni Prezada," with its unadorned vocal and twining autoharp, or "Musa Venit Carmine," sung in Latin, in the round, and stippled with dynamic percussion. These selections are exuberant, even catchy, but the mystery that lies in the heart of the Mediaeval Baebes' sound is never sacrificed. "Mrk Hur Vr Skugga" is even better. A vocal trio harmonizes in an ancient Swedish tongue over the pluck of a zither and a violin's mournful sway; it's weird, cool, and beautiful. The ethereal "Lhiannan Shee" is another highlight -- its layers of beckoning voices are like lures to a spirit world -- and "Cittern Segue" is a gentle interlude played on the titular instrument, a Renaissance relic which sort of sounds like a mandolin crossed with a harpsichord. ~ Johnny Loftus

Professional Reviews

Dirty Linen (pp.89-90) - "The ladies fluidly vocalize in Middle English, Manx, Cornish, medieval Italian, 18th-century Swedish, and of course, Latin. They breathe new spirit into Simon & Garfunkel's take on the Elizabethan poem 'Scarborough Fayre.'"

Album: Mirabilis *
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Star of the Sea
2)	Trovommi Amor
3)	Temptasyon
4)	San'c Fuy Belha Ni Prezada
5)	All for Love of One
6)	Lament, The
7)	Musa Venit Carmine
8)	Kilmeny
9)	Lhiannan Shee
10)	Umlahi
11)	Cittern Segue
12)	Return of the Birds
13)	Tam Lin
14)	Scarborough Fayre
15)	Come My Sweet
16)	Mrk Hur Vr Skugga
17)	World Fareth as a Fantasye, The
18)	Away

Album: Mirabilis *
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Star of the Sea
2)	Trovommi Amor
3)	Temptasyon
4)	San'c Fuy Belha Ni Prezada
5)	All for Love of One
6)	Lament, The
7)	Musa Venit Carmine
8)	Kilmeny
9)	Lhiannan Shee
10)	Umlahi
11)	Cittern Segue
12)	Return of the Birds
13)	Tam Lin
14)	Scarborough Fayre
15)	Come My Sweet
16)	Mrk Hur Vr Skugga
17)	World Fareth as a Fantasye, The
18)	Away