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Beautiful Darkness, Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Jessica Radcliffe, Lisa Ekstrom, Martin Simpson
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fave it Traditional Folk | Celtic New Age
17 tracks | 55 minutes
Released Nov 2004
on High Bohemia Records
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- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 06:38 Northern Lass/Snowflakes lyrics BUY MP3 06:38 Northern Lass/Snowflakes lyrics "GIFT MP3" 06:38 Northern Lass/Snowflakes
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:18 Time Is A Little Girl/Over The River and Through the Woods lyrics BUY MP3 02:18 Time Is A Little Girl/Over The River and Through the Woods lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:18 Time Is A Little Girl/Over The River and Through the Woods
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:45 The Time Is Drawing Near lyrics BUY MP3 03:45 The Time Is Drawing Near lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:45 The Time Is Drawing Near
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:45 Kolyada/Old One lyrics BUY MP3 02:45 Kolyada/Old One lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:45 Kolyada/Old One
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:38 Raven/Gifts lyrics BUY MP3 02:38 Raven/Gifts lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:38 Raven/Gifts
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:02 Give Me the Moon lyrics BUY MP3 03:02 Give Me the Moon lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:02 Give Me the Moon
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:20 Abbotts Bromley Horn Dance/In Winters Shadow lyrics BUY MP3 03:20 Abbotts Bromley Horn Dance/In Winters Shadow lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:20 Abbotts Bromley Horn Dance/In Winters Shadow
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:12 O Vent lyrics BUY MP3 03:12 O Vent lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:12 O Vent
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:41 The Cutty Wren lyrics BUY MP3 04:41 The Cutty Wren lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:41 The Cutty Wren
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:27 'Til Here Is There lyrics BUY MP3 02:27 'Til Here Is There lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:27 'Til Here Is There
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 01:47 To Drive the Cold Winter Away lyrics BUY MP3 01:47 To Drive the Cold Winter Away lyrics "GIFT MP3" 01:47 To Drive the Cold Winter Away
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:50 One Small Candle lyrics FREE 04:50 One Small Candle lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:50 One Small Candle
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:09 Winter Wedding/The Wexford Carol/The King/The Holly and the Ivy lyrics BUY MP3 05:09 Winter Wedding/The Wexford Carol/The King/The Holly and the Ivy lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:09 Winter Wedding/The Wexford Carol/The King/The Holly and the Ivy
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 00:18 Solstice Fire lyrics BUY MP3 00:18 Solstice Fire lyrics "GIFT MP3" 00:18 Solstice Fire
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:13 TourneTourne lyrics BUY MP3 04:13 TourneTourne lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:13 TourneTourne
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:43 Bright Child/Magic lyrics BUY MP3 02:43 Bright Child/Magic lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:43 Bright Child/Magic
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 01:32 The Holly Bears the Crown lyrics BUY MP3 01:32 The Holly Bears the Crown lyrics "GIFT MP3" 01:32 The Holly Bears the Crown
A gentle atmospheric journey into the changing year
Editorial review
Released in 2000, Beautiful Darkness was one of the loveliest and most unusual holiday albums to come along in some time. It was a rare release, in that the people who made it -- Jessica Radcliffe, Lisa Ekstr?m, and Martin Simpson -- seem to have made the album for artistic reasons, not commercial ones. The album also stood out because the participants offered an intelligent, deeply felt meditation on the Solstice -- as opposed to the Christmas -- celebration. One shouldn't approach Beautiful Darkness like a Bing Crosby record, filled with spirited songs and happy lyrics. Instead, the album is all of a musical piece, relying heavily on mood to portray the undercurrent of the long winter nights. The instrumental work is as spare as the leaf-less winter woods, with guitar, bells, cello, and accordion creating a deep, subtle atmosphere. Radcliffe handles most of the spoken-sung parts, and her fragile voice adds a touch of haunted ambience to the music. If one gains the impression that Beautiful Darkness' heavy mood is a contemplation on death, it's only a fitting subject for the Solstice season. For anyone prone to sitting before the fireplace in mediation during chilly evenings, Beautiful Darkness is a desirable companion. For those who are sick to death of the same old holiday offerings, Radcliffe, Ekstr?m, and Simpson offer a refreshing change. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide
Bio / Background
Anything that can be said about Jessica Radcliffe doesn't quite seem to do her justice. She is a poet, a pagan, a shaman, a singer steeped in tradition and a songwriter of deeply personal songs that illuminate the human experience and can also make you catch your breath with their beauty.
Jessica was born in Los Angeles and was exposed to a diverse wealth of music through her family of Irish and Spanish heritage. She recalls learning Leadbelly tunes from her grandfather, who had a brief stay in jail with the blues legend. Jessica began writing poetry at an early age and naturally ventured forth into music playing her first show at thirteen. Her writing has been published worldwide and she has performed extensively with spoken word and song throughout the US, the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan and Hong Kong.
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