CD Review: Omnia - Musïck & Poёtree

Artist: Omnia
Title: Musïck & Poёtree
Genre: Pagan / Folk / Celtic / Gothic
Release Date: 16th September 2011
Label: Screaming Banshee/Alive

Album Review

It’s been almost 15 years since the project OMNIA was founded as a band that formerly played in museums in order to revive northern Celtic and Roman music. Nowadays and eight releases later OMNIA is quite well-known in its genre of pagan-folk and after several changes in their line up, they’re quite prepared to introduce their new album ‘Musïck & Poёtree’.

This release is separated into two parts with roundabout twenty minutes of “new” material on each CD. In fact ‘Musïck’ contains songs played by the whole band including their live musicians. Although of a really short playing time, the first CD of OMNIA´s release is without any doubt of outstanding composing features. Especially ‘Fee Ra Huri’, ‘I don’t speak human’ and ‘Xtatica’ are mirroring the lifestyle of OMNIA´s both protagonists Steve and Jenny and persuade the listener with the typical musical arrangement of this free-spirited musicians. The sound of beautiful voices and instruments round out the picture of a band, that is not only playing pagan folk music but also living this with every beat of their heart.

The second CD ‘Poёtree’ contains cover songs OMNIA (and therefore Steve and Jenny) tried to transfer in their very own world. An experiment that in my opinion is too dreary and monotone. Although there are some aspects blinking now and then that makes me smile, the arrangements are slightly and a little bit too calm. In my opinion, OMNIA passes the chance to put the song in the right light due to the fact, that in the case of the second CD the arrangements are lacking variety. I still don’t even get a clue why those both “eternal lovers” chose that songs beside the fact of their own intimate feelings. Nevertheless that assortment seems a bit too weird for me…

Conclusion: OMNIA is presenting 42 minutes of new music to their audience. Half of this release is containing cover songs and only three songs of the other half are really convincing… In my opinion, ‘Musïck & Poёtree’ therefore is nothing more than a “placeholder” and foretaste of their next release and only advisable under certain conditions. This release is definitely one for OMNImAniacs…


Tracklist

Line-up

Musïck
Steve Sic Evans-van der Harten - Vocals, Kargyra, Irish Bouzouki, Irish Whistle, Wardrum, Davul, Darbuka
Jenny Evans-van der Harten - Vocals, Neo-Celtic Tall Harp, Hurdy-Gurdy, Bodhrán, Spoons
Phillip Steenberger - Acoustic Guitars
Maral Haggi Moni – Vocals
Daphyd Sens – Skideridoo
Maria Franz - Backing Vocals

Poёtree
Steve Sic Evans-van der Harten - Vocals, Neo-Celtic Small Harp, Dombek
Jenny Evans-van der Harten - Vocals, Neo-Celtic Tall Harp, Piano, Bordhdan


Website

http://www.worldofomnia.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/worldofomnia / http://www.facebook.com/worldofomniahttp://www.facebook.com/worldofomnia

Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 5
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 6.5 / 10