HILDEGARD VON BINGEN

Garmarna usually specializes in slightly-amplified versions of Scandinavian folk music, which is quite nice, but they took a left turn on this release. It is an adaptation of the music of medieval abbess and mystic Hildegard von Bingen to what I can only call a trip-hop backing. Lots of stop-start electronic beats, crisp acoustic guitar and fiddle and lush keyboards. Vocalist Emma Härdelin has an ethereal, soaring voice that is perfect for this type of material. This album is a nice contrast to all the early music versions of Hildegard's music by groups like Sequentia, with their perfect, classically-trained voices and sparse instrumentation. Not essential, but an interesting experiment. If you like early music or electronic pop, it will do the trick.

I was unable enjoying of listening to this record. There is technically nothing wrong in the production of this album, and the performers are skilled, but the stylistic characteristics of the electronic trip-hop beat dominating this album makes it a listening experience I don't appreciate. The idea of doing modern versions from the ancient songs of Hildegard von Bingen is interesting, and I suggest this record warmly for those listeners who are not allergic to modern electronic drum beat sound, like I sadly am. I really got crazy (in positive way) about the band's first EP, which had raw archaic improvisational stuff on it and no trip- hop beats, but this CD was a disappointment for me.