Released
1997
by
The Federation
A Division of
Cop International
Reviewed by
Kim Alexander
Label
Visit
Contact
Cop International
Visit
Battery
Visit
Ivoux
Last Edit/Update
17 April, 1998
Frozen
Track Listing
1. The White Witch
2. Proserpina
3. Rusalka
4. Emily
5. Sif
6. Yuki Onna
7. Koturine
8. Holle
9. Snow Queen
Battery's new side project, Ivoux brings you a dramatic
and chilling creation in their new release: Frozen, a wonderfully sensitive and
deeply moving composition brought to you by Maria Azevedo, Shawn Bric and Evan
Sornstein. Based on references of works such as but not limited to:
H. A. Geuber's Myths of the Norsemen; Hans Christian
Anderson's Complete Illustrated Stories; The Brothers Grimm's
Complete Illustrated Stories; and C.S. Lewis's The Lion, The
Witch and The Wardrobe, Ivoux has created music for the discerning
listener and those more "quiter" times in the day when you might relax to a
sound more invoking of those moments.
The White Witch (British),
being a character from C.S. Lewis, begins the journey through Frozen
with evidence of lyrics about winter, spells, magic, isolation and cold hearts, joining
perfectly with the synthphonics, slow bass line, keys and jingles of the music with Maria's
sweet flowing expansive vocals. (She does of course have an excellent voice!)
Prosperina (Roman), the
daughter of Ceres, Goddess of the Harvest, brings more slow bass line,
and synthphonics while Maria explains about the deep grief experienced by
Ceres with the loss of Prosperina, and how Ceres
made the "earth to become barren and cold....."
"Rusalka (Russian), was a
young woman who perished by drowning and became a "Water Spirit", who sought to
exist by drawing the life-energy from men foolish enough to be lured into her arms by her
seductive songs." And such is the senuous harmonies presented in this track by Maria,
with the enticing quiet drums and melody lines involved.
"Emily (United States),
is the ghost of a little girl who got lost and died in a snowstorm. She haunts the same
meadow every winter, as her words filter through the wind, coaxing others to join
her." Another sweetly flowing piece of haunting melody, sounds of synthetic ice
crackling beneath your feet are imagined, and whispering vocals have been recreated by Ivoux
with reference to this story.
Continuing on, Sif (Norse),
the wife of Thor, didn't want to marry the cold God of Thunder, and was
having resentment in her mountain home, of which lyrics engage: "It was damp in the
mountain, creeping down into caves, the wind gathered outside, I grew nervous and wanted
to hide...", where Maria then sings out: "What do you want from
me? It's freezing,...I'm scared and lonely, look what you took from me, I'm missing my
family...I want to go home." Another intense piece of work bringing out great synths,
solemn melodics and a dark mysterious drift.
Yuki Onna (Japanese), a
beautiful demon of the snow, sets yet another somber stage with a flare of traditional
oriental sounds, clicks and slow bass reverberations, deep and expansive drum effects
where again, Maria explains through her lyrics, as well as Japanese
lyrics translated, treated and spoken by Melanie Olstad, about the story
of how Yuki Onna stole the life-breath from an unlucky woodcutters
apprentice in a snowstorm.
Koturne (Siberian) a young
daughter of a father of a tribe, during a killer blizzard, sent Koturne
to appease the North Lord of Wind by marriage, of which her two eldest sisters failed in
doing -- Koturne saved the village...and such are the sounds reflecting
this story -- heroic, intense, more upbeat snappier bassline/drums and tempo and harmony.
Holle (Teutonic) is a
meoldy-synth driven drum/bass composition, taken from the German goddess, which stands for
the "embodiment of the three stages of womanhood. In Germany, she represents the
Crone as Old Mother Frost." Which brings the CD full circle to The Snow
Queen, (Norwegian) a sorceress who lived in perpetual ice and snow -- who, stole a man
(Kay) from his beloved Gerta, yet were reunited after Gerta stuggled to find him. Memories
of Gerta spoken in lyrics by Maria of how "they used to play",
and how she used to "wrap her arms around him." Sad yes, but a sweet ending in
her finding her beloved -- uplifting and beautiful!
This Cd is wonderfully soft and
elegant, with a unique flare -- a brilliant work of art! Thanks to everyone who
contributed to bring this music to us.
