tenebrae is theo’s fourth long-player and second with amish (also see dearly beloved, [ami-025]), marking the return of his patently unique songwriting, which includes a variety of regionalist folk-stylings — the mountain music one discovers along the appalachian trail; a southern gothic lyricism; northwestern eco-spiritualism; and above all, the music discovered in the woods just beyond a tent revival. angell’s densely hermetic iconography reflects an artist well-versed in myth, the avant-garde filmwork of kenneth anger and stan brakhage, and the ethno-poetics of brion gysin. oh, and theo’s singing voice is unquestionably one of the most expressive and expansive in outsider folk today. theo grew up in rural oregon, was home-schooled along with his siblings by his minister father, which provided him little exposure to mainstream pop culture; the tunes on tenebrae reflect these conditions, documenting both a reverence for and rebellion against isolation and spiritual absolutes. to that end, the title song, which is the latin word for darkness, references a religious ceremony that involves the extinguishing of candles in advance of holy week. the album’s song-cycle reworks various primitive musical forms to new and celebratory ends, twisting these styles into a unique brand of folk-psychedelia. for this outing, the tabernacle hillside singers include, among others, matt valentine, p.g. six, tom greenwood and samara lubelski. tenebrae highlights again theo’s unique poly-vocal pyrotechnics and will no doubt prove to be one of the most beautiful records of the year… comes in a heavy mini-lp style gatefold sleeve, with foldout insert.
ANGELL, THEO ~ TENEBRAE ~ cd (amish)
ANGELL, THEO ~ TENEBRAE ~ cd (amish)
tenebrae is theo’s fourth long-player and second with amish (also see dearly beloved, [ami-025]), marking the return of his patently unique songwriting, which includes a variety of regionalist folk-stylings — the mountain music one discovers along the appalachian trail; a southern gothic lyricism; northwestern eco-spiritualism; and above all, the music discovered in the woods just beyond a tent revival. angell’s densely hermetic iconography reflects an artist well-versed in myth, the avant-garde filmwork of kenneth anger and stan brakhage, and the ethno-poetics of brion gysin. oh, and theo’s singing voice is unquestionably one of the most expressive and expansive in outsider folk today. theo grew up in rural oregon, was home-schooled along with his siblings by his minister father, which provided him little exposure to mainstream pop culture; the tunes on tenebrae reflect these conditions, documenting both a reverence for and rebellion against isolation and spiritual absolutes. to that end, the title song, which is the latin word for darkness, references a religious ceremony that involves the extinguishing of candles in advance of holy week. the album’s song-cycle reworks various primitive musical forms to new and celebratory ends, twisting these styles into a unique brand of folk-psychedelia. for this outing, the tabernacle hillside singers include, among others, matt valentine, p.g. six, tom greenwood and samara lubelski. tenebrae highlights again theo’s unique poly-vocal pyrotechnics and will no doubt prove to be one of the most beautiful records of the year… comes in a heavy mini-lp style gatefold sleeve, with foldout insert.