Altehes - Aletheia [Glass Throat Recordings - 2006]Altehes debut album comes across as an earthy mix of Acoustic Neurosis & tribal downbeat folk rippling with beautiful and dark forestall undertones. This is music of the elements and their spirits. Worn by wind, born from fire, buried and resrected in black forests. Striped down and barren, but often embellished and illuminated by cello and violin. It seems detached from our time and culture, this is music of a superstitious and deeply dark religious forest dweller's. Released on the great Glass Throat label- home of the amazing Ruhr Hunter. Packed in similar impressive fashion to the new Ruhr Hunter- in a large sized black rubberised card, with black on black printing. This does share some of the similar dank tree woven air as Ruhr Hunter- but this is a lot more striped down, construction more on repetitive and gloomy strummed Pattens of acoustic guitar. Bleak and often ragged vocals intone hymns to huge dark earthy gods. This is music of fear, sacrifice and old ways. On offer are six track, that follow in similar fashion to each other, but that’s not to say it gets boring or stayed- it keeps one attention though out. Your mind locked in the autumn shade of yellowing trees for it’s running time. Dreaming of old forestal settlements- carved leering spirit god faces cut into each doorway, ritual bonfire's cutting the winter night skies, woollen gowned figures draging back fresh kill- leaking blood, reddening the snow covered forest floor. Really for any fans of bleak folk or earthy real music. And of course if you enjoyed the Ruhr Hunter and enjoyed his bleak folky elements you like this. To buy direct and hear samples go here Roger Batty
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