CD Review - 'Mistletoe and Wine' by Mediæval Bæbes

Genre: Medieval Christmassy stuff

Review: 

Formed by Katharine Blake of band Miranda Sex Garden, the Mediæval Bæbes consists of a varying line up of female musicians performing medieval inspired music. I’ve listened to the Mediaeval Baebes casually for some time now on last.fm or youtube (etc) but only bought their album Mistletoe and Wine a few weeks back, needing to find a piece to work on for my singing lesson.

Mistletoe and Wine, as you might have guessed from the title, is an album of Christmas/advent/etc songs, most of which featured on earlier albums (according to Wikipedia two songs are new, two are rerecorded. I’m not going to check). As a rule, I hate it when a CD contains a mix of songs off other albums, plus one or two new ones, because it always seems like a cruel ploy to get people to buy songs twice. ‘Gold editions’ of albums, containing bonus tracks, released a couple of months after the original album just when all the fans have bought the first album drive me bonkers too. Anyway, I digress. The point is, this is the first CD by the Bæbes that I have bought and therefore I’m not too worried about the repetition.

Now’s the point when I talk about album art or something like that. Well, I downloaded this one so haven’t really got anything to say. It looks like an okay design, as far as one can tell on iTunes album art. I don't really understand the seemingly random naked people but it is a deep shade of red which works for Christmas, and for me. It’s not fair to comment when you can’t see something physically but there’s nothing that jumps out as impressive in the album cover; it’s just okay.

Sadly, that seems to be my general opinion on the important bit, the music. There’s nothing awful but there’s very little that stands out as great either. There are some beautiful arrangements, some great vocals, but overall the album left me rather nonplused. Yes, I do feel guilty posting a review about something that I don't really like, hence the generally positive reviews, but here goes.

The tune I ultimately ended up working on in my own singing lessons is ‘Gaudete’. I love this piece, even if, having sung it heaven only knows how many times over the past month, I am sick of it! The vocals in the stanzas sound pure, clear and really pretty. The burden is pretty too but it just doesn’t sound quite right. The singers sound a bit bored, maybe that they’re trying too hard to sound like an angelic choir… they sound a bit bored. They’re singing “Gaudete”, or “rejoice”, but sound like they couldn’t care less.

And there we have the problem with this recording, in my opinion. It’s pretty but that’s all I can say about it as a whole. It’s got some lovely moments, some lovely musical aspects, yet it feels soulless.

My favourite piece on the CD is Kinderly which, despite having some of the most depressing lyrics going (thanks medieval hymns!) is a bouncy piece, sung in a round with a fair amount of percussion. It’s bouncy, quick, and complex sounding enough for it to have some character. Similarly, I enjoy Ecce Mundi Gaudium which also seems to have a bit of charisma.

Out of the slower pieces, it is The Coventry Carol that really stands out. This piece is exceptionally simple in presentation and that really works for it. Although there’s no obvious emotion in the rendition, the purity and simplicity of the harmonies makes it an evocative lament.

Overall, I find this CD really difficult. It’s beautiful but lacking, really lacking something, in my opinion. I’ve had the disk playing in the background a bit, and it’s been on in the car when driving as background noise while my mother and I chat. Although the music is, often, lovely, there’s nothing that I have been able to connect with and therefore there is little power in the CD and little to have a strong feeling about. I want to like it more than I do. I feel it could have been great. Sadly, there are a lot of people who do this genre and so much better.

If the idea of medieval-style Christmas music catches your fancy then you can preview the tracks and buy them if you like from here.

Book review - 'Angelfall' by Susan Ee

Rating: 4/5 stars

Plot:

"It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again."

-from 'Angelfall' on Goodreads

Review:

It's been a while since I wrote a book review as I've mainly been re-reading books due to my busy life right now. Today, however, I decided to pick up Angelfall and give it a go. I first came across Angelfall on Goodreads and decided that I would like to read it due to an interesting sounding plot and some wonderful reviews. It wasn't until a couple of months back when I saw it in a book shop that I got around to buying it. The next day, I saw it on a very reasonable reduction on amazon (maybe even free, I don't remember) and in my utter annoyance I put off reading the book!

Anyway, personal rant aside, onto the book itself.

The plot revolves around Penryn, her family, and the angel Raffe. What an odd little bunch they are! Penryn's life could hardly be considered normal, even without the angel apocalypse, as her mother has severe mental health difficulties, her sister is wheelchair bound, her father is AWOL, and she's a bit unusual in her own right. That said, she doesn't seem too unusual so as to make her character unbelievable. To be honest, perhaps in such a situation as the end of the world it would be those who have had the unusual lives who survive. What I liked most about Penryn is the way her character thought, acted, and developed. Although she has some characteristics (like being family orientated, quite brave etc.) she goes through a lot of different emotions and thought processes, like any human being would.

Raffe himself almost has a parallel plot. Although we're focusing on Penryn's quest to find her sister we learn about Raffe along the way and, by the end of the novel certainly, it is as much his story as hers. I feel that the series may well start to develop the stories of other characters a lot more as Ee has ensured that there are enough interesting aspects to each of her characters, even those who are encountered for just a page. I find myself wanting to know more about the mourners in the woods, the host at the '1920s club'... characters who were only brushed upon. I guess that's one of the greatest strengths of this novel. Every character that Ee introduces has a personality, a history, a humanity (species regardless).

Perhaps my favourite aspect of the novel was the way in which Ee included some really witty remarks, often from the mouths of her characters, and black humour. This never seemed forced but either added to the tone of the scene in the way that only dark humour can, or lightened the tension between the more hard hitting scenes. I'm two lazy to look up an example (my book's in the other room!) but if you read the book you'll see what I mean.

You might have noticed that I have basically described this book as though it deserves five stars and, in many ways, I think it does. Why four stars then? It's because of the ending. As I don't like to include spoilers in my reviews I can't be too specific but every event from the hotel room scene onward just didn't do it for me. It's my problem and I can, in no way, blame the author or the book. I will read book two, though, and am sure that these happenings will grow on me! 

I bought this book for R.R.P. which is highly annoying because it was on offer straight afterwards. It was worth the money, however, and can be bought if you click here!

Birmingham Christmas Market.

I grew up in Birmingham and, as you will know, recently moved back. For as long as I've been alive, and a fair bit longer, Birmingham has been twinned with Frankfurt. While I've never been to Frankfurt (it's on my to-do list) I have taken advantage of the twinning situation by visiting the Frankfurt Christmas market each year. Yesterday I took my chance and made my way into the centre of town.

Birmingham itself was not as busy as I expected. We actually managed to find a place to park which is an amazing thing in its own right. The shops were quite understocked, had quite big sales on (I'm sure there's a link between the two things), and a lot of my favourite shops had closed down. It's only been six months since I was in town, okay maybe a bit longer, but a lot has changed. 

Economic problems aside, Birmingham knows how to celebrate!

For all the shops might have been a bit of a disappointment, the general atmosphere was great. We spent the morning and the afternoon avoiding the market - that's a nighttime activity - but there were plenty of other things around. From stunning decorations, and later lights, to street performers, there was a bit of a party atmosphere in the air. Actually, I saw enough Alien vs Predator themed street performers to be a bit disconcerted....

When darkness fell we made our way into the market which was kitschy and overpriced as ever but still has an air of magic about it. We were lucky as this was the least busy I've seen the market which meant that we could move around and breathe at will - bliss! The stalls were a little repetitive, selling your average German-themed gifts. There were a couple of real gems though, a stall selling chocolate shaped as all sorts of different things from cameras to horseshoes was one of my favourites. A stall selling craft stamps was also quite wonderful but the owners were a little rude, and didn't know what they were talking about, which put me off buying anything. If I'm going to buy a full set of brass alphabet stamps (not a small investment!) then I want to feel that the people care about making the sale. I might go back again though ;-)

The police in this photo ruin the image somewhat! All the same, it was
great to have such a visible police presence.

The food and drink is, of course, one of the biggest draws. When visiting a place like this, I eat and drink things that I would never dream of eating at other times, simply because of the memories they stir. Some foods remind me of Christmas, some remind me of people while others remind me of places I have been. Because my mother is on tablets and therefore can really not have any alcohol at all we decided to stay away from the glühwein and mead for her sake but that didn't mean that there wasn't plenty of things to enjoy. I was particularly pleased to find a stall selling proper coconut macaroons which are just lovely. Oh course, we also have to buy a stollen cake, knowing that we will go on to buy six more from Tesco for the same price and better flavour!

Tell me that you don't want a go!

That said, the highlight of the market has got to be the carousel. For as long as I can remember, I have gone on this ride. When I was younger I was terrified and would only go in the carriages or maybe share a horse with my mother. It's a fast carousel and I was (and still am) a coward. That said, it's always been a highlight. I guess there's something wonderful about doing something so childish, riding something that has been around for years (the idea if not the particular ride).

My horse was called Nancy... and this is an awful photo hehe

When I got off the ride my mother pointed out an elderly couple who were having a turn. There's something so romantic about a couple doing something like this, especially when they have been married, presumably, for some time. In years to come, when I am their age, that is where I want to be, riding a carousel with the love of my life. Take note future husband!

I'm pretty pleased that we decided to go to the market yesterday because the storms today saw it closed and people injured by the roof blowing off one of the stalls. I do hope that nothing of great value was damaged and, more importantly than anything else, that people were not seriously hurt.

Christmas Song of the Day

Maria durch ein Dornwald ging, performed by Zirp, lyrics and translation here.

Zirp, as a band, play 'Hurdy-gurdy fusion folk' which is a bit confusing considering the lack of hurdy-gurdy here! That said, they're a great band who really get a crowd up and dancing. I stumbled upon this song quite by accident when looking at some of their videos on youtube. It just so happened that I needed to find a foreign Christmas song to sing at my singing lessons and the rest is history.

Quite frankly, the song itself is stunning but this rendition, in my mind, sets it off perfectly.

There's a good reason why I love Christmas!

It's December now, okay? No moaning about my talking about Christmas!

Earlier today, I went out with my mother to a garden centre that's quite close to our home. I used to go there with my parents as a young child, around Christmas time, and now that we're back in Birmingham we naturally gravitated towards it.

Walking through their Christmas displays was a bit weird. So many things were familiar but it seemed so different. In a way it all seemed less magnificent, less exciting, yet nothing had really changed about it. There were tacky little lights all over, glittering baubles, expensive gifts... 

On a television by one of the walls was the new Snowman film playing away to itself, or so I thought. Looking down I saw a little girl, two years old a the most, sat on the floor. Leaning against the television stand she was watching the story, completely enthralled. Her mother called her to look at something and, after a moment, she dragged herself away from the screen to the next exciting thing. 

There were children all around. They were entranced by little light up model villages, old-fashioned models of Santa. They were excited. They were excited in the way that only a child can be, in the way that I used to be. Looking at the items on display in the garden centre I noticed my own excitement growing. It is oh so easy to look at the world through childish eyes once again and Christmas seems to be the only time that society allows us to do this. It's okay for grown people to have an advent calender (incidentally, my chocolate was cappuccino flavoured this morning... not impressed). It's okay for upstanding members of society to don novelty jumpers and reindeer antlers. For a few weeks we all start to feel that joy, that magic that is in the world, the feeling we lost with the end of 'youth'... or were told to loose.

Gosh, this is all getting a bit heavy. Didn't plan for that!

Anyway, I got back home and decided to focus my evening on getting my cards and presents ready for my own little children in the form of my two youngest nephews. Although I won't be there with them on Christmas day, I know they'll have a wonderful time!

Gifts and cards for the youngest nephews. Yes, I did have to make up
the chocolates myself because names like that don't come on the shelf!!

Bonus anecdote

Talking about how Christmas makes 'serious' people a bit, well, less so... My mother always tells the story about how she was working in the High Court and one of the solicitors was giving evidence. He lent forward to accentuate a serious point and all of a sudden 'Jingle Bells' starting playing out of nowhere. He then had to explain to the Judge that he was wearing musical underpants, must have leant on the button and there was no way to switch them off until they'd run their course. Naturally, everyone was quite amused!

Christmas song of the day

Ecci Mundi Gaudium, performed by the Mediaeval Baebes, 

lyrics and translation here.

The Mediaeval Baebes are a rotating line up of female singers performing medieval inspired pieces. Their work tends to be a bit hit and miss, as far as I'm concerned. I love some tracks and other arrangements, seem to me, to be lacking in character. 

This song, Ecci Mundi Gaudium is one of my favourites by them. I love the question and answer effect, I love the tune and I love the fact that the vocals aren't too perfect and therefore soulless.

I also love the rendition by Schelmish, which is even rougher in tone and a completely different beast! You can listen to that one by clicking here. Which do you prefer?

Coming clean about universities

Over the past month or so there's been something afoot in the Chadburn household. Something that has kept me up until silly o'clock drafting and redrafting essays. Something that has had me rooting through my building site house looking for documents. Last night all that changed.

I feel ready to say, publicly, that I am applying for university in the Netherlands.

A couple of people already knew but I wasn't planning on going totally public until I knew the result of my application. However, having sent the application form off last night I've decided I might as well come clean now!

The application process itself was quite complicated... seriously, UCAS is a comparable doddle. Of course, being a foreign student I had to provide all kinds of extra things like scans of my certificates (because they can't check that like English universities), information on if I would need a visa (no), and a passport style photo.

Upon seeing this photo, both my parents, individually asked
which prison I'd escaped from. You'll be pleased to know
that we didn't use this one in the application!!

Anyway, the trauma of applying aside, I now have the trauma of waiting and seeing if I get offered an interview and, ultimately, a place. I really would like to go to this university so I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that I did enough in my application. 

I'm not ashamed to say that I'm actually very nervous.

Introducing my canary

For the next installment in my 'introducing friends' series I want to introduce you to this cheeky little thing.

I think he decided that if he turned his back I'd stop
harassing him with the camera!

Now, for those of you who are friends of mine and are wondering why my canary is getting a post before you I have to explain why this little bird is one of my best friends. 

I was about six when he hatched; my father bred canaries at the time. For some reason there were older chicks in the nest with him and, as they flew the nest so did he. Problem was, he was only a day or two old. All the same, every time he got put back in the nest he jumped out. Eventually he was put down as a lost cause, after all he wasn't getting fed either. Never one to give in, however, I hand raised the bird. No-one expected him to survive but with a syringe of some bird food mush, a shoe box full of rags and very little sleep on my part he managed to pull through. I named him Miracle.

If the camera won't leave of its own
accord then try chirping at it.

No matter where I've lived, Miracle has sat in the same room as me. He'll sing along with my music (he prefers metal and glam rock, if you must know) and he'll sing along with me. He tweets insistently for food because he's a greedy little thing and I usually give in and give him more seed even though he only eats one type out of the mix Sometime he just sits next to the bars chirruping and looking at me questioningly and we have a little chat. He has a frying pan on his cage because someone put it there once and now he gets frightened if you take it away. 

Come to think of it he's probably the only canary who owns a frying pan....

An eventful few days

On Monday, after singing, I went down to Exeter to collect my exam certificates from college. It was really strange to be back in the old building, walking the same old routes, yet without one familiar face along the way. I can't say I miss college but I do miss some of the people who I met there very much.

There's something slightly anticlimactic about
holding the certificates but all the same!

I also spent most of the day yesterday in Exeter itself with my mother doing some Christmas shopping and generally lurking. First stop was John Lewis to look at a DSLR camera that I'm hoping to receive for Christmas. After a fair old while of photography with compact cameras only I've given in and decided to invest in a 'proper' camera. I'll be honest and say that I'm still not 100% happy with it but my aims are getting increasingly ambitious and I'm getting more and more frustrated with the limitations of the compact camera. Anyway, this wasn't supposed to be a camera rant!

I was especially happy to see that the Christmas Market was up and running on the Cathedral Green, especially as I had read it opened on the 1st of December! It was a lovely surprise. I was also remembered by a couple of the stall holders... I must have spent way too long there last year! It was so lovely to see people having fun together. One college aged girl walked past saying to her friends "I can't help it, I just love Christmas!" while a young boy ran up to a statue of Santa and tried to take a gift from his bag. There was an all round excitement and that is what makes Christmas so special.

I forgot to take photos at the market so have a shoddy
photo of a half eaten cake I bought there instead ;-)

When darkness fell mother and I sat down in a hastily constructed bar tent (which was blasting Michael Jackson songs) and had a glass of Glühwein each. You can blame 'Tascha for that because she was the one who started us drinking it! It was here that I logged into facebook, meaning to message 'Tascha although I never did, and found the following in my update feed:

Post by RASTABAN.

Well, that was unexpected. I write reviews here for my friends or for my own reference and never expect them to be read by anyone else, least of all the person/band I was writing about. I was so touched by what was written though and say, yet again, that this just goes to show that Rastaban are not only a band full of wonderful musicians but lovely people too. If you still haven't listened to them go and listen now!

The other thing that happened that day was on the way back to the car I stopped and chatted to a homeless gentleman. This was something I used to end up doing quite a lot in Exeter and I forgot how worthwhile it was. In the end my mother gave him some money and he gave her an origami crane that he had made. As we walked away he shouted after us: "God bless!". We'll probably never meet again but for those few minutes our lives crossed and it was beautiful.