Music that strives to incorporate authentic elements from its place of origin has a special appeal, because it can teach you about history, culture and customs, regional tunes and instruments in an effortless and casual kind of way. At its best, this kind of music will transport you to a different time and place, far away from your current location, and offer you a glimpse into another world.
Including your geographical and cultural background into your music, in one way or other, makes sense, especially if authenticity is what you are after. Our surroundings and our roots make up a big part of who we are. Local colour will automatically make your sound more genuine. Of course, you need to know what you are doing and you need to do your research. Luckily, in the case of the album at hand, the research has been done meticulously.
Arð are a new project from Northumbria on a musical quest for heritage and identity. “Arð” means “native land” in the Old English dialect of the Anglian Kingdom of Northumbria, and the project aims to get the listener acquainted with their homeland, its identity-defining locations, its most-famous personae and tales. Musicians with plenty of experience are involved in the project: First of all there is Mark Deeks, member of Winterfylleth and extremely prolific musical director, arranger, piano coach, conductor and author. Arð is his brainchild and he is responsible for vocals, all rhythm guitars, piano, keyboards, and bass. On Take Up My Bones, the project’s debut album, he is supported by Dan Capp (Wolcensmen) on guitars and backing vocals, by drummer Callum Cox (Atavist), and by cellist Jo Quail. What can go wrong if you have assembled such an outstanding crew? Short answer: Nothing much.
The story and the lyrics of this research-based concept album revolve around the odyssey of the legendary relics of Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (634-687), patron saint of Northumbria. A monk, bishop and hermit, popular already during his life, he was declared a saint after his death. The story of his remains begins in Lindisfarne after the devastating Viking attack in the year 793. It ends 200 years later with the saint’s remains being reburied in the cathedral of Durham.
The music on Take Up My Bones is built on a doom foundation, mournful and melancholic in character, summoning death and sorrow. To this foundation other elements have been added which further define the atmosphere. Most notably, there are monastic and medieval-sounding chants calling spacious, cold and dimly lit places of worship to mind. The solemn character of the vocal performance in combination with the fear-and-awe-filled lyrics is reminiscent of medieval world views. Epic melodies played out on guitars add grandeur and speak of the nobleness of the cause and its symbolic power. The soundscapes are finetuned with the help of piano, keyboards and cello that enhance the images that the listeners draw in their minds.
Take Up My Bones by Arð is a trip back through time, atmospheric and emotive, to some of the nation-defining moments in the history of Northumbria, telling tales of hardships, of medieval monastic life and a sea-and-wind-influenced climate. It’s a trip well worth taking.
(8/10 Slavica)
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