Faeries: A Musical Companion to the Art of Brian Froud
Review by Kerrie Colantonio (C) October 2002 All Rights Reserved
Rippling sounds, waves, breaking through the pool that gathers at the base of the spring, arms reaching out to draw me in, to trade places, worlds. Faerie walks the world of Man, human girl wanders lost in wanderlust, head swimming in glitter and glam.
This past Spring I was beckoned into the Faerie glen by the poetry and lilting notes of Woodland at the Faerieworlds Festival. Early this Autumn, I found myself again drawn into the realm by FAERIES: A MUSICAL COMPANION TO THE ART OF BRIAN FROUD, falling in step with leaf-sailing pookhas and faeries in legwarmers and scarves!
From ultraviolet underground to light and aerie, the songs and melodies selected for this collection are well mixed. The seductive sounds of "Sweet Allure" by Ballingomingo and "Dreaming" by BT will pull you down into the underground dance scene- and right on through to the realm of Faerie. Soft and ethereal, the voices of Aylmer and Cahill singing "Nevermore" will sweetly haunt you as you go about your day, while the joyous notes of "Alegria," from Cirque du Soleil's show of the same title, will raise the spirit and send it on its merry way to paint the world with rainbow colors.
Upon starting the enhanced portion of the CD, faeries and piskies dance in and out of view, a smooth blend of mythical art and digital mastery. Enhanced features include a Gallery, text from an Interview with Brian Froud, a Film Clip from "The Fairy Faith," an Animation, and an Excerpt from the new Lady Cottington's Fairy Album.
Images in the Gallery feature friends old and new, some never been seen before (as is the way from time to time with fairy folk) - particularly haunting is the image, "The Ragged Wood," a masked woman, emblazoned with a red rose.
Jugglers and fans of GOOD FAERIES/BAD FAERIES and THE FAERIES' ORACLE will clap their hands with joy to see the young balancer, Adroito, with his magical balls in motion in the Animation. Look carefully- faeries like to pop in and out of our lives and the screen in the blink of an eye!
Photos and folly, faith and fancy, following and falling- here they all start with the same thing- Froud. I think Brian said it best in the Interview: "Music has a wonderful ability to create space; it discretely lifts you out of the current moment and transports you into another world. The type of music is not important; what is important is that you surrender to it and let it take you away?" I surrender, I surrender?
Night dances back to the edge, sends herself to where I stand, and I stand on the edge, where I once stood, so long ago, so recently. I do not return to where I once lived, for I did not live there, did not breathe there, I merely was. Following the path I thought I knew, past the cottage where I once grew, towards the horizon, so deep and blue, to find and begin a life made new, a Life True.
(C) Kerrie A. Colantonio October 2002 All Rights Reserved
This CD is nothing what you would expect from something that has Faeries as the title. It was such a pleasent surprise that kept me at the edge of my seat. It was one great song, after another after another. I was literaly taken to another time and place from which I did not want to leave.
All the songs contain a hidden message of peace, harmony, and excitement. It puts you at ease one minute, and makes you want to jump out of your seat and dance in the other. A few personal favorites such as Balligomingo and BT can be found in the cd; bringing in wonderful sounds and instrumentals.
Also keep in mind that it is an enhanced cd. It contains a gallery on Brian Froud's art work, which is base on "faeries". You can also find an interview and a beautiful animated movie. This is a must have. You will be taken to the realm of the faeries, and you will feal these wonderful enigmas in every song that you hear.
I have to admit that I preffer listening to "Woodland" while admiring the work of the Frouds ...But the extras on this disc are great !! Well worth the money .
This is a wonderful little CD. I loved listening to it while driving. It relaxed me in the Atlanta traffic. Yes a total miracle worker obviously. ;) I found the music diverse enough that it did not get boring quick but similar enough that it was enjoyable.
I really like this cd it is different and that!s what I like about it. There are all different types of faeries so there needs to be different types of music to go along with them . I think that!s what Brian Froud wanted when he picked these songs to go along with his book. This cd puts me in a different frame of mind when I listen to it. I have all of Gary Stadlers cds also celtic faery music I enjoy all of them.
