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One of the nice things about going to Convergence 13 was the small, unscheduled, surprises. Katherine Heilesen was one of them.
While the Sepiachord Crew was hanging outside of the Crystal Ballroom getting their pictures taken one night there was a woman with a remarkable voice performing on the sidewalk. She was so good we couldn't resist picking up one her CDs then and there.
"50 Minutes Before Departuring Gotland" is a melancholic folk recording that features Heilesen's talented and textured (and occasionally piercing) voice. Her vocals frequently waver in a forceful vibrato that you would most commonly encounter in medieval music. As with all great folk music it is her voice that is the primary instrument.
Unlike most failed folk recordings this "raw fastmade onetake demo" doesn't dampen the power of her singing by pouring on too many other insturments or with sterile production. Heilesen is the only musician that appears on this CD. Her's is the only voice and she skillfully accompanies herself with little more than one instrument per song. Generally Katherine's playing the cornerstone of modern folk music, the accoustic guitar, but her harp work on "Snow Cuts the Curly Wave" and the dodhran supplied rhythm on "Herr Sinclair" are exceptional. The composition isn't simple, it's unadorned, uncluttered.
Still heavy handed and antiseptic production techniques have ruined many folk albums in the past. But not here. Every song is warm, earnest and inviting. This is a recording that you could curl up and find comfort with. What you hear on this (too short) recording is personal music not an impersonal studio. Perhaps more folk artists should take their lead from Katherine Heilesen and eschew big production facilities and record thier songs at "Jonas' Mother's house".
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Katherine Heilesen
http://sistermoon.dk/
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