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This is not only Helmond’s first release, it is also the first release of the label (Trutzburg-Thule) and things are looking pretty bright for both of them!
Helmond consists of two artists, Marco M and Sascha B. Their music can best be described as something between neoclassical and dark ambient with a touch of electro. It deals with philosophy, mythology, sorrow and history. Great atmospheres are mixed with pounding drums and sampled speeches. Proud and bombastic orchestral tracks are suddenly possessed by choirs, pianos, nature sounds and martial influences. And these are only some of the ingredients that create Licentia Poetica.
One might think it’s hard to concentrate with all these sounds going on but it’s not. It’s actually quite nice to be thrown from an almost hypnotically calm mood into aggressive drums that make your blood run really fast.
I didn’t really know how to write this review... I’m not used to writing about this kind of music. Since ambient is so based on feelings (and no words can describe feelings properly) I thought it would be really hard. But why complicate things? I’m simply going to shuffle two random tracks, and tell you what I hear. I leave you to experience the feelings they bring by yourself.
Track nine, "Wilde Jagd" starts with a heavy wind blowing, and some dark orchestral sounds fades in. Thunder claps and a deranged operatic voice sings. There are some vocals whispering in German behind the keyboards. After a while some neat drums join in and these are the elements that build "Wilde Jagd". If I close my eyes and try visualizing this song in pictures, I can see the world after all the bombs have been detonated. There is some glimpse of hope in it but I can’t tell where from. A fresh and very cinematic neoclassical song!
"Silva Negra II" (where is the first part?) is the sixth track and probably the best and strongest one on Licentia Poetica. It starts with an old, sampled song, probably something from the 40’s or so, but some noises interrupt it and soon it’s gone leaving place for a mystic soundscape and one of the best marching drums I’ve heard in quite a while. After some minutes the oldies song return for a quick outro. Needless to say, it’s the drum that makes this song. A few things can get me so exited as a marching drum and this one is really something!
Licentia Poetica is no groundbreaking album, either in its quality or originality but it’s always interesting enough to keep me listening and enjoying what I’m hearing. The two artists should be proud of what they’ve created.
If you’re into the early stuff of A Challenge of Honour and dark ambient, chances are quite big that you’ll fall for Helmond.
CME
Helmond consists of two artists, Marco M and Sascha B. Their music can best be described as something between neoclassical and dark ambient with a touch of electro. It deals with philosophy, mythology, sorrow and history. Great atmospheres are mixed with pounding drums and sampled speeches. Proud and bombastic orchestral tracks are suddenly possessed by choirs, pianos, nature sounds and martial influences. And these are only some of the ingredients that create Licentia Poetica.
One might think it’s hard to concentrate with all these sounds going on but it’s not. It’s actually quite nice to be thrown from an almost hypnotically calm mood into aggressive drums that make your blood run really fast.
I didn’t really know how to write this review... I’m not used to writing about this kind of music. Since ambient is so based on feelings (and no words can describe feelings properly) I thought it would be really hard. But why complicate things? I’m simply going to shuffle two random tracks, and tell you what I hear. I leave you to experience the feelings they bring by yourself.
Track nine, "Wilde Jagd" starts with a heavy wind blowing, and some dark orchestral sounds fades in. Thunder claps and a deranged operatic voice sings. There are some vocals whispering in German behind the keyboards. After a while some neat drums join in and these are the elements that build "Wilde Jagd". If I close my eyes and try visualizing this song in pictures, I can see the world after all the bombs have been detonated. There is some glimpse of hope in it but I can’t tell where from. A fresh and very cinematic neoclassical song!
"Silva Negra II" (where is the first part?) is the sixth track and probably the best and strongest one on Licentia Poetica. It starts with an old, sampled song, probably something from the 40’s or so, but some noises interrupt it and soon it’s gone leaving place for a mystic soundscape and one of the best marching drums I’ve heard in quite a while. After some minutes the oldies song return for a quick outro. Needless to say, it’s the drum that makes this song. A few things can get me so exited as a marching drum and this one is really something!
Licentia Poetica is no groundbreaking album, either in its quality or originality but it’s always interesting enough to keep me listening and enjoying what I’m hearing. The two artists should be proud of what they’ve created.
If you’re into the early stuff of A Challenge of Honour and dark ambient, chances are quite big that you’ll fall for Helmond.
CME