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Updated 12th April 2K01!
19th March, 2 days shy of Awakening, CE 2001. WOW!!! Earlier today Tony e-mailed me the MP3 of the title track, 'Supernature' - what a stunning piece of work! We'll have to wait and see if the rest of the album lives up to the staggering promise of this incredible track, but if it does, then 'Supernature' is set to be the Inkies' best album since the unsurpassed 'Wytches' way back in 1994... The song starts with a sharp drumcall, in keeping with Inkubus Sukkubus's traditional style, but then the music proper starts and from the first notes we know we're off in a totally new and uncharted direction, as Candia's lovely voice weaves and spins the name 'Supernature' round and through layers of music and voice - her voice is layered too - then, faint at first yet growing stronger, a solitary violin weaving through this lavish soundscape lifts our minds clear out of the present, and draws us into the magic and mystery of the song. Abruptly the sound draws back a little, we steady on our giddy broomstick flight into mystery, and then Candia's clear voice breaks into the first verse. We have found her Supernature in the earth below and in the skies above We have found her Supernature All our hate and all our love We have found her Supernature In both the day, and the night We have found her Supernature All the darkness, and all a'light Supernature Supernature Supernature We have found her Supernature In the rain and in the dust We have found her Supernature All our pain and all our lust Supernature Supernature Supernature We have found her Supernature In our lives also in death We have found her Supernature In our blood and in our prayer Towards the middle of the song the music again starts to weave layer upon layer, carrying us towards awarenes of the greater goddess, Supernature... We have found her Supernature Supernature The layering grows deeper as the song continues, again Candia's voice is many layered, "Supernature" over the middle verses, again the violin comes to the fore as the gothic backing slowly fades into the background... You can hear the new track for yourself, with the Band's permission it's available for download from the MP3 sampler page. Now roll on the 31st of March when we can buy the album and hear the rest! Note: The lyrics above are my own interpretation from listening to the MP3 - I'll correct the errors when I get to see the sleeve notes!
And as for the rest of the album... Yay! The full track listing is: Supernature Lucifer Rising Take The Kiss Fey Hang Around Concubine Vermillion Rush Whore Of Heaven Wings Of Heaven We Belong With The Dead Preacher Man Gypsies Tramps & Thieves There are some real surprises in here - the weirdest of which is kept to the end, for not only have the Inkies done a cover of the old Cher classic "Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves", they've re-written it! I've not been able to decypher all the lyrics yet, but I can report that the line from the original that goes "we picked up a boy just south of Mobile, gave him a ride filled him with a hot meal" has become something like "There once was a bloke who owned a Capri, sideburns and flares, he was learning Tai-Chi"! Listen and wonder, and learn of life in and around Cheltenham... For as long as I've been seeing them live, Inkies gigs have always ended with their double-headed church-bashing sledgehammer, "Church Of Madness" (Wytches, 1994) running into "All The Devil's Men" (Belladonna & Aconite, 1992). While there have been references to the evils of the Christian church on albums since, there hasn't been anything with the raw power and emotion of these two. Until now. With "Preacher Man", the band return to the classic theme - not anti-Christ, rather anti the evil men who have twisted the faith of countless innocent victims down the centuries for their own lust and pleasure. In terms of raw gothic power, this one is right up there with "Devil's Men" as an all time Inkies classic. While it doesn't quite reach the heights of the seminal "Church Of Madness", the lyrics are powerful and compelling, the line "It takes a priest to unleash the beast" haunts you long after the song ends. Why am I reviewing this album widdershins? Don't know, it just happened! :-) Speaking of haunting, the song before "Preacher Man" is the deep, dark, totally gothic "We Belong With The Dead" - slow and mysterious, a eulogy to Suicide. Close your eyes, listen, and be one with she who opens her wrists and seeks a better place... Of the earlier tracks, I've not had the time to really listen closely yet, save to say that "Lucifer Rising" follows "Supernature" in taking the band into new, fascinating and uncharted territory. All in all an interesting new album, and proof that Tony, Candia and crew can still surprise and delight with powerful new material.
"Supernature" the album reviewed by Jack (pyromancer@inkubus-sukkubus.co.uk), Three weeks shy of Beltaine, 2001 A more complete review will follow in time. |
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