Music for the pagan heart
Dustin Messer | FL, USA | 03/11/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you liked "The Winds that Sang at Midgard's Fate" you will definitely like "Volven". Andrea Nebel Haugen is a true pagan at heart, and doesn't mind expressing what she feels. I would classify "Volven" as Pagan Folk Ambient music and is definitely original. There are more folk intruments in the album, however, it is more ambient than "Midagard's Fate." If you like her music you will definitely like her book "The Ancient Fires of Midgard." In her book she discusses, Norse Myths and Ledgends, celebrating seasons and personal events, herbs, gods/goddesses, Seidr (Norse Shamanism), the self, spirit animals, natural childbirth, and even cloths worn by the Germanic Pagans. She also doesn't hesitate to express her feelings toward Christianity and other dogmatic religions(Islam, Judism). Andrea Nebel Haugen has been a great inpriration for me. Through her writings and her music she has helped spark the fire in my pagan heart."
Scandinavian Pagan Folk Music
Mr D. | Cave Creek, Az United States | 09/23/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"As are many, I am a fan of the beautiful vocals and ethereal ethnic melodies of Enya and the equally captivating vocals and medieval celtic and world folk sounds of Loreena McKinnett. They are like bookends on a shelf, holding up their end of this amazing repertoire of heavenly to historic music.
There is room on this shelf for a fairly recent phenomenon from Scandinavia (Norway). This Phenomenon is called Hagalaz Runedance a band that evokes a feeling of a time long ago, a primitive time in the pagan lands of Germania and the Norsemen.
The founder and leader of Hagalaz Runedance is the witch, Andrea Nebel Haugen. Calling them a band may be a stretch, rather Hagalaz is more of a collaboration of Andrea and her selected guest musicians. The music itself is pretty much indescribable, except in general terms. Andrea herself, performs all vocals and some of the percussion with a cadre of guest medieval instrumentalists along to help out. Hagalaz Runedance play a blend of Northern European and Norse folk music and medieval melodies favored with an occasional Celtic flavor. Primitive tribal drum beats provide an undercurrent for most melodies, which are played by traditional instruments from lyres , to drehleiers , mandolins , tin whistles , and Nordic bag pipes and several others I've never heard of, providing an authentic, soothing Pagan atmosphere of a time long ago lost. Some guitars are used , mainly acoustic, except for in the remix of "On Wings Of Rapture" which features some electric guitars and looped vocal effects. Also "Dreaming Wild White Horses" features an ethereal electronica background and "Solstice Past" has a synth in part, a most interesting effect, soft pagan music backed by modern electronic instruments
Andrea's clear, strong, deep voice penetrates you. She also provides backing harmonies and wails that provide aural sensations associated to the distant past. Lyrically, Volven also concentrates on pagan themes especially relating to feminine endeavors of ancient times . Andrea herself is a self proclaimed witch and her belief and passion flows through into her music.
My nomination for best tracks on Volven is fourfold, one & two, both versions of the catchy "On Wings Of Rapture", perfectly combining medieval instrumentation and folk melodies into a convincing and infectious song and third, Seeker Divine with heavy drums throughout and an delightful melody, this is the closest song to Loreena McKinnett's style, fourth is The Dawning more drums which are a strong element of many of Volven's songs plus multiple voices of Andrea. For me, this is the song that is most reminiscent of Enya . The rest of the album is very good as well and a pleasure to listen to.
CONCLUSION
I would say that Hagalaz Runedance would fall within the New Age genre, so if that's your preference, check them out.
Volven and the other Runedance music I have heard is pleasant enough and fun to listen to but it isn't the kind of music where one or several of the songs grab you and won't let go, and you gotta hear them over and over. Then again, that's typical of my experience with the New Age genre, it's just not that emotional. No this music is more sedate and easy going, though I do think with the strong beats and drums, it would be good to exercise by, if I was so inclined."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1