CD Review: SoCorpo's 'Inelement'

SoCorpo
Inelement
Ears Wide Open Records

The new age music maestros, Sasha Bogdanowitsch and Sabrina Lastman, conjure up images of a natural world bombarded by otherworldly vocals, sounds, and arrangements that are as historic as they are futuristic. The melee of music is accomplished with autoharp, bowed psaltery, mbira, and other electronics. The metallic, punchy, and tinny sounds are processed and reinvented for a different affect overall. The songs are very creative and vocal. The vocals are not very traditional, yet they represent a variety of singing traditions that are angelic, abrupt, and varied. Think of the Squonk Opera meets a Mongolian throat-singing group, while on tour with Kristi Stassinopolou. The wide array of sounds are sometimes reserved to allow the vocals prime-time coverage. Anyone familiar with Scandinavian singing traditions stemming from related Inuit song types will especially love the music of SoCorpo. Everyone else may enjoy the tunes as a more experimental project. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Universalia in Re's 'Grandes Visioes'

Universalia in Re
Grandes Visioes
Sketis Music

The sounds of Medieval music are proudly displayed on old court songs in praise of the Viring Mary. The songs, or cantigas, are written in Galician--the language of the courts for Alfonso X. The eight tracks follow an operatic theme with cascading and theatrical female vocals. The 12th century songs follow the structure of virelais, which is an Arabic musical form that rose to popularity in Europe in the 14th century. The Medieval songs would not be complete without the addition of traditional instruments. Thankfully, Universalia in Re showcase the psaltery, citole, vielle, rebec, guitarra morisca, and double pipe. The combination of instruments and vocals make Grandes Visioes a fun album. The title of the album is taken from "Pera toller gran perfia," which describes the Virgin Mary showing the visions of Heaven and Hell to a man, who changes his ways and becomes a Christian. Overall, Grandes Visioes is an excellent addition to the Medieval music collector and anyone looking for something unique. Extensive liner notes are included. ~ Matthew Forss