MaterDea - Below the mists, above the brambles
What joy it was to work with Simon and Marco. I am proud that we could bring our love of music together on Another trip to Sky?.
Haunting and inspiring lyrics surrounded by mystical, magical and thoughtful arrangements. MaterDea have presented a wonderful journey. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
John Whelan
1. Below the mists, above the brambles 5.44
2. Fairy of the moor 4.36
3. Another trip to Skye 6.04
4. An elder flute 6.10
5. Mater Dea 6.07
6. The Mummers dance 6.07
7. In the storytellers wardrobe 6.18
8. The silvery leaf 4.45
9. Breath of the ocean 2.01
10. The enchanted oak 4.39
11. MaterDea (acoustic version) 3.21
MaterDea was born when two musicians, Simon Papa and Marco Strega, engaged in a remarkable collaboration. Coming from very different musical traditions, they nevertheless share a common passion for the dreamy, haunting and rarified ambience of Celtic music. The common denominator in this project, besides the musical ambience, is the lyrics in which natural elements, marvelous creatures, and fantasy compete to draw the listener into a surreal dimension, which brings one into contact with the ancient cult of the Great Mother.
In this, their first album, Simon and Marco collaborated closely. Each song was inspired by the sophisticated harmonies and arrangements that Marco created which permitted Simon to unleash her imagination, finally allowing her to unite it with a new creation. The two musicians were often together in Marcos' studio, in a beautiful little house in the country nestled among magnificent trees, to decide which was the best direction to take on a particular melody, and ended up recording the entire album there. The recording of this album took place from November 2008 until October of 2009. Each track was recorded after the finalization of the composition. One at a time, every one took on aspects of daily life, of the seasons with their colors and scents, and of the goings-on that occurred in the personal lives of the two musicians during this entire period. Perhaps because of this, the album manages to convey a particular feeling to the listener; the entire album embodies the experience of discovery as both musicians, together, began to discover little by little the magnificence of that which they were bringing forth from themselves.
The first piece written MaterDea is indeed the mother of the album. It was originally to be used as the soundtrack for a short film, but instead made it possible for Simon and Marco to decide that would be worth getting together to make an actual album. In MaterDea, the fluidly changing melody immediately captures the listener. The second composition, named Fairy of the Moor, was so deeply moving and penetrating that the enthusiasm of the two musicians was rekindled. Then, The Enchanted Oak came along, a piece with a very dreamy feel to the melody, which becomes ever more powerful and with lyrics that follow the ever changing dreamlike musical arrangement perfectly.
Simon and Marco then thought to pay homage to a great Celtic musician, Loreena McKennitt, reinterpreting in rock her famous piece, The Mummers Dance. Another winning idea has also been to write original lyrics for a beautiful John Whelan melody entitled, Trip to Skye, This resulted in another emotionally impacting piece, which added to a new powerful harmonic part created by Marco, and which emphasized the already magical atmosphere of Johns melody. Subsequently the desire was born to contact John to invite him to add his virtuoso accordion skills in the recording, which he was most pleased to do and graciously agreed to the recording of MaterDea. It was in this moment of great joy for Marco and Simon that they found the opportunity to establish a relationship of friendship and mutual respect with this personality who is a Celtic instrumental music icon.
A few pieces then came to life as a result of themes suggested in a very informal manner by Marco and Simon, which is what happened in The Silvery Leaf, where from the theme of autumn leaves was born a powerful ballad with a folk flavor, always with the engaging presence of Marcos energetic guitar. The lyrics tell the story of a leaf with silvery veins which comprise a map enabling a woman to find her lost love. An Elder Flute is one of the pieces which express the strong rock influence of the project, and is inspired by the mythological figure of Pan, imparting a very sensual feel to the listener. An Elder Flute, together with In the Storytellers Wardrobe, was truly written by both musicians, and in both pieces, one can delight in the wonderful harmony of Marco and Simon, blending perfectly in a duet.
Another composition where their combined voices produce an intense atmosphere due to the hauntingly beautiful arrangement and the amazing harmonic and melodic concept is Breath of the Ocean, written on the fly and which is meant to be heard all at once while one is captivated by its intensity.
Finally, the piece Below the Mist, Above the Brambles was born magically from its own title and has become one of the most interesting pieces of the whole album, as its structure based on a very sweet opening stanza, an explosive middle part, and a chorus which remains quite impressive.
Official Website: http://www.materdea.com
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/materdea
Melodic Revolution Records: MaterDea
John Whelan
1. Below the mists, above the brambles 5.44
2. Fairy of the moor 4.36
3. Another trip to Skye 6.04
4. An elder flute 6.10
5. Mater Dea 6.07
6. The Mummers dance 6.07
7. In the storytellers wardrobe 6.18
8. The silvery leaf 4.45
9. Breath of the ocean 2.01
10. The enchanted oak 4.39
11. MaterDea (acoustic version) 3.21
MaterDea was born when two musicians, Simon Papa and Marco Strega, engaged in a remarkable collaboration. Coming from very different musical traditions, they nevertheless share a common passion for the dreamy, haunting and rarified ambience of Celtic music. The common denominator in this project, besides the musical ambience, is the lyrics in which natural elements, marvelous creatures, and fantasy compete to draw the listener into a surreal dimension, which brings one into contact with the ancient cult of the Great Mother.
In this, their first album, Simon and Marco collaborated closely. Each song was inspired by the sophisticated harmonies and arrangements that Marco created which permitted Simon to unleash her imagination, finally allowing her to unite it with a new creation. The two musicians were often together in Marcos' studio, in a beautiful little house in the country nestled among magnificent trees, to decide which was the best direction to take on a particular melody, and ended up recording the entire album there. The recording of this album took place from November 2008 until October of 2009. Each track was recorded after the finalization of the composition. One at a time, every one took on aspects of daily life, of the seasons with their colors and scents, and of the goings-on that occurred in the personal lives of the two musicians during this entire period. Perhaps because of this, the album manages to convey a particular feeling to the listener; the entire album embodies the experience of discovery as both musicians, together, began to discover little by little the magnificence of that which they were bringing forth from themselves.
The first piece written MaterDea is indeed the mother of the album. It was originally to be used as the soundtrack for a short film, but instead made it possible for Simon and Marco to decide that would be worth getting together to make an actual album. In MaterDea, the fluidly changing melody immediately captures the listener. The second composition, named Fairy of the Moor, was so deeply moving and penetrating that the enthusiasm of the two musicians was rekindled. Then, The Enchanted Oak came along, a piece with a very dreamy feel to the melody, which becomes ever more powerful and with lyrics that follow the ever changing dreamlike musical arrangement perfectly.
Simon and Marco then thought to pay homage to a great Celtic musician, Loreena McKennitt, reinterpreting in rock her famous piece, The Mummers Dance. Another winning idea has also been to write original lyrics for a beautiful John Whelan melody entitled, Trip to Skye, This resulted in another emotionally impacting piece, which added to a new powerful harmonic part created by Marco, and which emphasized the already magical atmosphere of Johns melody. Subsequently the desire was born to contact John to invite him to add his virtuoso accordion skills in the recording, which he was most pleased to do and graciously agreed to the recording of MaterDea. It was in this moment of great joy for Marco and Simon that they found the opportunity to establish a relationship of friendship and mutual respect with this personality who is a Celtic instrumental music icon.
A few pieces then came to life as a result of themes suggested in a very informal manner by Marco and Simon, which is what happened in The Silvery Leaf, where from the theme of autumn leaves was born a powerful ballad with a folk flavor, always with the engaging presence of Marcos energetic guitar. The lyrics tell the story of a leaf with silvery veins which comprise a map enabling a woman to find her lost love. An Elder Flute is one of the pieces which express the strong rock influence of the project, and is inspired by the mythological figure of Pan, imparting a very sensual feel to the listener. An Elder Flute, together with In the Storytellers Wardrobe, was truly written by both musicians, and in both pieces, one can delight in the wonderful harmony of Marco and Simon, blending perfectly in a duet.
Another composition where their combined voices produce an intense atmosphere due to the hauntingly beautiful arrangement and the amazing harmonic and melodic concept is Breath of the Ocean, written on the fly and which is meant to be heard all at once while one is captivated by its intensity.
Finally, the piece Below the Mist, Above the Brambles was born magically from its own title and has become one of the most interesting pieces of the whole album, as its structure based on a very sweet opening stanza, an explosive middle part, and a chorus which remains quite impressive.
Official Website: http://www.materdea.com
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/materdea
Melodic Revolution Records: MaterDea
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- Item #: 8 034115 580005
