Search - Hildegurls, Eve Beglarian, Lisa Bielawa :: Electric Ordo Virtutum

First Review

Thomas C. Benson | 09/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The singing, speaking, sighing, and chanting of the Hildegurls is otherworldly and pushes the envelope for the female voice, picking up from pioneering artists in this arena such as Patty Waters, Joan La Barbara, and Diamanda Galás, but moving forward from that to some extent, it is not often that you hear such singing in ensemble, and here it is realized with perfection. Moreover, the electronics help move the story along and is not used as a commercializing element as it was on EMI's Vision, a release devoted to Hildegard's music to some extent, but also tastelessly repackaging her like a rock star. This attempts to establish a continuum from the present back to Hildegard in an artistic, spiritual, and political way, and it is entirely successful, gripping, and entertaining; the only way it could be better would be if it were a video, and that not being the case, Electric Ordo Virtutum is as good as it's going to get, which is excellent." ~ Uncle Dave Lewis, All Music Guide"