*. Rajna .*

Album: Babel (2013)
Genre: Neofolk (Darkwave/Neoclassical/Etheral)  /  France

Following the trail of Babylon, Rajna’s new album ‘’Babel ‘’ is inspired by the cradle of our civilization, Mesopotamia. Rajna continues its musical journey and its quest of new and yet undiscovered landscapes. Babel is a timeless and introspective masterpiece. Jeanne’s crystal-clear and powerful voice is stronger and emotion filled than ever. The magic of Jeanne’s own language world and this such particular voice tone are transporting the auditor into far away dream lands. The musical composition of the album is sometimes very complex but also sometimes very minimalistic in order to focus only to what is the most essential and authentic in the heart of the songs. Fabrice once again explores a diversity of ethno instruments such as the duduk, the ney, the bendir, the saz, the buzuki, the whistle, the symphony, and of course its legendary and well known santoor. Babel is a dreamlike trip within the hanging gardens of Babylon, ‘’ The Garden of Babylon’’. It is a shrine within the myth of Babylon from which following compositions have emerged: « Ziggourat »,« Voyage of the Magus », « Hanuz Nist ». Songs like the oriental flavoured ‘’Na Traya’’ or the celtic inspired ‘’The Wedding’’ and‘’And leaves are falling…’’ reach a peak of intensity using this such particular and timeless dream language of Jeanne. Babel is also an album which has been conceived in the spirit of charring and collaborating with artists such as Olaf Parussel from sToa. This has lead to the wonderful interpretation of the song ‘’Offering’’, the common work on the song ‘’The Wedding’’ (which was originally conceived as soundtrack for the German documentary ‘’Barbarossa’’) and for the cover version of the sToa song ‘’Hanuz Nist’’ which Rajna has reinterpreted with highest intensity. This collaboration constitutes the foundations of a strong friendship between these two artists. With ‘’Babel’’ Rajna is back at its best with compositions of a rare purity and intensity, going straight to the heart of emotions. (http://rajna.bandcamp.com).

RATING:  8 / 10

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