Artist: Priscilla Hernández
Album: Ancient Shadows (the Ghost and the Fairy)
Genre: Ethereal gothic/New Age
Release date: November 2006
Label: Yidneth
Introduction
The album is, like said, to be seen as a gathering of stories. The dark side of fairytales and the ghost stories are mixed in with the angelic voice of Pricilla Hernández. The tracks are split up into two main entities. Both the ghost and the Fairy have their own booklet in the CD. All the lyrics are in both English and Spanish, written inside the booklets. The booklets have Pricilla’s own drawings in them, too. She has created a darker Ghost having most of the drawings showing the dark sides of life, death, pain and wrath. The Fairy seems to have a lighter personality and her story is told to give her space in his world again, almost desperately. Also she tell where the tracks come from, and several photos and drawings of herself are put into the booklets as well. The entire CD is covered with drawings aswell, and the back of the CD tell us that the album is dedicated to KIRA, her very beloved dog that died in 2003. On her website Pricilla has dedicated a special place for her, showing the love she still has for her friend.
Priscilla Hernández introduces herself and an ethereal gothic singer-songwriter and a fantasy illustrator. She composed this album herself as well and she also plays most instruments on the album herself. She had the help of a few other musicians for the music. Priscilla was born on Tenerife and is currently living in Spain. ‘Ancient Shadows’ being her debut album, has dedicated much of her time and used her fantasy, and created 19 tracks that will tell the dark fairytales Pricilla found in the back of her mind…
The album is, like said, to be seen as a gathering of stories. The dark side of fairytales and the ghost stories are mixed in with the angelic voice of Pricilla Hernández. The tracks are split up into two main entities. Both the ghost and the Fairy have their own booklet in the CD. All the lyrics are in both English and Spanish, written inside the booklets. The booklets have Pricilla’s own drawings in them, too. She has created a darker Ghost having most of the drawings showing the dark sides of life, death, pain and wrath. The Fairy seems to have a lighter personality and her story is told to give her space in his world again, almost desperately. Also she tell where the tracks come from, and several photos and drawings of herself are put into the booklets as well. The entire CD is covered with drawings aswell, and the back of the CD tell us that the album is dedicated to KIRA, her very beloved dog that died in 2003. On her website Pricilla has dedicated a special place for her, showing the love she still has for her friend.
After tell you all this I think it is a good time to tell you what I thought of the CD, but first some extra information:
Website
Review per song
01. Facing the dream (opening credits) – 0.57
It’s only a short statement. It lifts up the veil between real life and the dream world, and you are taking to the world of Pricilla Hernández.
02. Away – 5.15
Away is about growing up, and having to let go of your imagination and fantasies. The world all of a sudden is pretty and magic anymore, but though, real and hostile.
The track is slower with having a piano guiding her most of the time. In the back the ritualistic drums and the pan flute give the entire track still a strong vibe, without having the despair of the child shown to much. The lyrics tell me that the girl is so afraid and wants to hide. The track is working both ways, musically quite positive but the lyrics tell a sad story.
03. Ancient Shadow – 3.40
Ancient shadow has a slow beat in it as well, joined by a new age sound in the back, and multiple vocals. The entire vibe of the track is quite sensual, and gives hope. Ancient Shadow is about being passionate and fantasising about and old spirit. Somebody who lived long ago or maybe he only lives in the mind. She still sings to the spirit to come and see her.
04. But if you go – 3.25
I hear the background of the track being filled with softly played African drums. A piano guides Priscilla during this track which is about the failing in love and the insecurities you get, you don’t want to the other person to leave you. The music gets stronger as the track progresses, and the singing is a bit harder.
05. I steal the leaves – 3.51
This track about the balance between night and day, shade and sun, spring and autumn feels positive and it takes you into a spin around thinking about all that gives life the cycle it has. The pagan feel in the track is coming to you in the form of different percussion, that makes nice to move to, and the flute in the end.
06. The willows lullaby – 2.52
Starting with a piano and some strings join in later Pricilla is singing about the willow that is mourning the forest. Mostly high tingling sounds are used, and combined with an eerie slow low voice. There is no real rhythm, only the loose sounds.
07. The call of the nymph – 4.40
This track sounds stronger and harder because of the stronger voice and the faster singing. Mainly the synthetic strings support Pricilla in this track, and later on the acoustic drums join in. the song dies out slowly with a hissing voice.
08. Nothing – 4.09
Nada. With a low cello and a piano in the beginning this track sounds desperate and lonely. De singing varies a lot and shows the pain and in this track. It’s a ghost, who sings this, she tells us she has to stay in this void that is now here life while she watches the rest of the world move on, and enjoy their lives. Whilst she is floating on her own never able to feel our warmth and love again. The Nothing remains. The atmosphere in this track is mainly set by the Cello. It dies out quite sudden.
09. Haunted – 3.53
With only a piano that starts playing and some hardly audible background voices, Haunted is about a house that is the evil ghost itself. This track tells about all the weird things that happen to a haunted house and the fear the house has of its own being. The track is faster. I t has a electronic beat and besides this in the end the cello joins in, tighter with the piano some more to guides the story to its end.
10. Nightmare – 3.39
In Nightmare the electric guitar is picked up, also the electronic beat is still there to help out. The track is about the really scary nightmares that will shake you awake in the middle of the night; not daring to move, because then the monster under your bed will come out and attack. The track has a bit harder feeling, in the first part where it’s about the creepy monster. The eerie sounds of the guitar and the faster drums and hissing and heavily breathing in the background gives the track a nervous and creepy sense.
11. Fairytale – 1.20
This short track is really about the different fantasy artists and their creatures. The inspiration Pricilla gets from the different fantasy artists is huge.
12. The realms of twilight – 3.17
This track about losing your innocence and the beauty of childhood as you will grow older sends out a message of hope. The slow music and the high pitched singing in the background, like angels, makes this track really friendly, and very suitable to play whilst lying in bed, and fall asleep peacefully and quiet.
13. The voice of the night – 3.12
The voice of the night was written when Pricilla was younger. Its about losing fear of the darkness and then being able to embrace its beauty, and safety. The song is positive compared to most other tracks, and the high angelic voices are guided by a harp, that plays a quite simple fantasy like track. The only constant noise in the track is the new agey sounds in the background.
14. Lament – 2.25
This track is written when Pricilla was very sad, and had found a way to express her broken heart. The track is really slow, and is not cheerful at all. The violin plays a sad song, and the piano in the back gives the song a bit more power. Besides this instruments no other are guiding the lyrics. The entire track is really sad, and can bring tears to your eyes.
15. Ahora que te has ido – 1.12
This is a musical piece, having the violin and the piano playing some really sad music, together. ‘Ahora que te has ido’ means ‘Now that you are gone’. This track is dedicated to Kira, and in the booklet Pricilla tells her story about the pain she felt when her dog had just passed away. Both ‘Lament’ and this track are written in 2003, this is the year Kira passed away. Listening to them, both tracks have the same atmosphere and the main instruments. I think lament is about Kira as well. In both these tracks the love for her dog and the aching Pricilla still feels thinking about the death of her friend, really shows in these songs. (Note from the reporter: as my cat got hit by a car a few months ago, and died… this really brought tears to my eyes as well.)
16. The prince and the fairy – 2.14
this is the last track featured in the Fairy booklet. It doesn’t contain any lyrics. Only the slow new age sounds and the piano used as one of the main instruments on this track. Besides this the angelic high voice of Pricilla in featured al during the track as well. The music tell the story of a young prince, captured under the spell of the fairy he finds in the forest.
17. I’m right here – 4.43
This song tells the story of ‘Ancient shadow’ only then from the eyes of the Shadow itself. The tracks starts really slow, later the music in enhanced by and electronic sound in the background. Also here the piano is one of the main instruments as well. The track feels really shy and sensual as the same time. With the varied voices and the way of singing it’s really clear how well Pricilla can sing, and use her talent in different ways.
18. Sueño Morte – 3.57
Sueño Morte means dead dream. This track is sung in Spanish. With a dead dream its writer meant to say, some dreams won’t come true. It’s meant to help herself move on to realize new dreams. The music is really simple with a shallow ritualistic drum and some shy strings.
19. Facing the dream (closing credits) – 3.57
The intro starts with classical sounding voices. The track consists of smaller parts of music and eerie hissing lyrics. The main part of the track is quiet. There is no real music played here. It’s only creating the illusion that there is more to life then we know. And with this creepy message the end of the album is here.
Technical
Tracks: 19
Extra: the booklets with the information about the tracks (and a personal note for us)
Total playing time: 62.51
Cover
Conclusion
‘Ancient Shadows’ has featured songs that Pricilla has written and reassembled of the years. In her music she shows her own strengths and fears, and tells stories mainly from her own life. It is very clear that, while in listening to the album, I get a good look into the life f Pricilla, and also into her talent. The songs can all be categorised as new age. The dark influences that can be found in the music, especially in ‘nightmare’ will also be very welcome in rituals people may use to relax, gain their strength, let go of things, of feel more desirable. ‘Ancient Shadow’ and ‘I’m right here’ have a veil of sensuality over them and will give you mind a moment to drift off to another realm.
The entire album is very suitable for playing the in evening, so you can light some candles and start reading one of those books that’s been in you cabinet for to long. The album is not suitable for people who aren’t fond of new age and fantasy. I love both, and am very happy I got the chance to review Pricilla’s personal stories. The music is recorded very beautifully as well, although sometimes I think it would have been prettier if the voices where blended in some more with the music. This because the different instrument are sometimes there to really guide the lyrics, and this type of music is not really made to sing along, but to just listen and let you mind wander of into your own fantasy world.
Rating
Music: 10
Sound: 9
Extra: 9
Total: 9.5
Music: 10
Sound: 9
Extra: 9
Total: 9.5
{jos_sb_discuss:19}
Comments powered by CComment