Dark Consort

8/3/2019 Dark Consort

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Dark Consort is a predominantly instrumental work from

2008 released in the wake of Jarboes MahaKali album.

Dark Consorts ambient atmospherics explore uncharted

sonic dimensions to breathtaking effect. Encompassing

innovative yet accessible interpretations of traditional

structures as well as extreme experimentation, this music

transcends genre and sometimes even defies description.


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Cedric Victor, the composer of Lamentationwho contributes bass and atmospheres to

MahaKali, mixed and produced Dark Consort. Besides Mouth of Flames and the Kali

Lamentationcycle arranged by Cedric Victor, there is no musical correspondence with

MahaKali.


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The brief intro See Emptiness Directly is a blend of guitars, cymbals, drones and camera

effects with a spoken recital of the title, while this instrumental version of Mouth of Flamesis

soaked in ambience.

The three Kali Lamentations from the three editions of MahaKaliare further developed here

as Kali Lamentation IV, V and VI.


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Lamentation IV opens with a brooding blend of resonating gongs, guitar, bass, chimes and

tuning forks over slow drumbeats. After this solemn overture, one of Jarboes twisted voices

recites a description of castigation in hell by a list of sharp objects.

Lamentation V has a lengthy prelude of synths slowly wafting in over a pounding drumbeat.

The recital is about the mother of changes after which chimes and drones enter, followed by

vague hints of background vocals and finally a rousing wordless chant in sync with the beat.

Using mainly tuning forks, Lamentation VI is a reprise of V, as Jarboe experiments with the

normal vs whispered voice on the phrase light without heat. At first the whisper is an echo

then the normal voice becomes the echo, and so they alternate in this spoken duet.

A Sanskrit mantra by Diana Obscura opens Divine Protection which takes the listener on a

journey through a hellish realm of growls and other ominous noises. This is a truly sinister

broth, conjuring visions of a primal, volcanic earth or a demon-infested world. It is far more

disturbing than Not Noahs Ark on the albumAnhedoniac.


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The growling, rumbling and chirping of Divine Protection resume on Summoning Tigers in

Dark Eden in an oppressive ambiance, to a slow strumming beat. Waves of synth and aquatic

effects roll in, followed by the distant sound of choirs. Suddenly massed angelic voices

illuminate this domain of demons and predators. The execution is quite spectacular, bringing

to mind the compositions of St Hildegard of Bingen as the voices soar over the octaves. Soloand layered vocals engage in multiple modes to generate tonal atmospherics of a powerful

numinous quality.


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Opening with solitary echoing percussion, The Long March of Ghostsis dominated by piercing

trumpet blasts over melancholic keyboard lines and voice effects. The track gains a spacious

dimension when layered vocals enter at the halfway mark.


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Kevin Hufnagel who played on MahaKaliand collaborated with Jarboe on Visceracontributes

guitar on the brief interlude Black Dream I, another drone with a vocal undertone. The most

experimental piece, Black Dream II, dates back to the time before Jarboe joined Swans. This

bizarre recording seems to incorporate the cries of birds, insects and mammals, plus human

vocalizing and muffled samples.


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Representing an experimental atmospheric strain in Jarboes work, Dark Consort contains

much that is unique. Those who appreciate her solo albums likeAlchemic,Anhedoniac,

DaksinaKaliand Durgaor collaborations likeBlackmouth,J2, Visceraor The End, will here find

intoxicating currents from a dark well of inspiration.
https://www.amazon.com/Alchemic/dp/B00V1C9NFE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8https://www.amazon.com/Alchemic/dp/B00V1C9NFE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8https://www.amazon.com/Anhedoniac/dp/B000667GVO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8https://www.amazon.com/Blackmouth/dp/B00X0UGGIC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8https://www.amazon.com/Blackmouth/dp/B00X0UGGIC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8https://www.amazon.com/Blackmouth/dp/B00X0UGGIC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8https://www.amazon.com/Anhedoniac/dp/B000667GVO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8https://www.amazon.com/Alchemic/dp/B00V1C9NFE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8


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LINKS

www.discogs.com/Cedric-Victor-Jarboe-Dark-Consort/release/3987232

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dark-consort/1020123188

www.discogs.com/Jarboe-Pandoras-Box/release/1572747

www.allmusic.com/album/mahakali-mw0000797896

www.metalreviews.com/reviews/album/4829

http://morganyevans.tumblr.com/post/11310800429/my-jarboe-mahakali-interview
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dark-consort/1020123188http://www.discogs.com/Jarboe-Pandoras-Box/release/1572747http://www.allmusic.com/album/mahakali-mw0000797896http://www.metalreviews.com/reviews/album/4829http://www.metalreviews.com/reviews/album/4829http://www.allmusic.com/album/mahakali-mw0000797896http://www.discogs.com/Jarboe-Pandoras-Box/release/1572747https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dark-consort/1020123188

Dark Consort

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