And so comes May, the month of Merrymoon. Merlin’s mother, a priestess in her own right, and a half-blood fae, has given birth to the child Merlin. The identity of the child’s father is shrouded in mystery, rumoured to be either another half-blood fae or an invocation of one of Merlin’s mother’s spells: an emanation of the woodland god himself.
Limited by the constraints of a nobility and social system compromised by the arrival of a child whose father is nowhere in evidence, Merlin’s mother, distraught yet resigned to fate, is forced to yield the child to a chosen stepmother for his upbringing. Guided by the counsel of the spirits of the Middle Kingdoms, she finds a local ‘wise woman’, herself a visionary, closely tied to the fae and richly versed in the ways of true magic…
lyrics
The child sired,
The fae song but a memory,
By night galloped
The mother and the babe
To a nearby village,
Aways from her castle,
To a woman chosen
By her friends of the glade…
“You must take the child, wise woman,” she cried,
“My purity given for my infant mild!”
“Fret you no more, my lady of the fae –
I’ve dreamt of this child, his one true way.
Old I may be,
And for this I have waited,
For much love I see
When others see hatred;
Long in the tooth,
But wise to the ways
That bring the moon
To darkened days!”
The tearful mother,
After long weeping minutes,
Then left for the night,
Consumed with such sadness,
The castle of her birth,
Her ancestors’ cairn,
Her place of the fae,
And of Merlin’s birth…
The old woman in her arms
Took the sleeping babe,
And saw the lights that winked about him,
The solace he betrayed.
“You’re a right one of the horns,” she said,
“The very spirit of May,
And long have I waited, my little blossom,
So long before this day.”
Sean Jude - Vocals, Guitar
Kevin Murphy - Bass
Thomas Legg - Drums, Percussion,
Keys
Liverpool (UK) based prog rock trio.
A rich blending of powerful evocations through progressive and Celtic metal, gripping rock anthems and hauntingly acoustic refrains, rich with storytelling imagery, myth and sacred geometry....more
supported by 5 fans who also own “To the Wise Woman”
return to arda is another epic ride like the last album not all those who wander are lost. just beautifully executed from start to finish .all credit to the musicians on the album.thank you dave for another great record to lose myself in ramm5150
supported by 4 fans who also own “To the Wise Woman”
For anyone who loves progressive music, this band, and this album, is a must listen. The closest comparison for me is the band IQ. Robin Peachy's vocals are very similar to that of Peter Nicholls. The title track is the one that really put the hook in for me, especially around the 6+ min mark, where the whole thing shifts into a very jazz/prog groove and is just fantastic! Sacrifced in Vein is another standout track. An excellent album for longtime prog fans and curious newcomers. Techsceptre
supported by 4 fans who also own “To the Wise Woman”
♠️ Pure as always with Antimatter !
Prog-rock that gives you the Thought and ... that matters. Fan ... jump in !
https://themusicalbox.fr/antimatter-a-profusion-of-thought/ Jack music Life
Tim Arnold's latest album of lushly detailed art-pop explores the insidious ways tech surveillance has become a part of our lives. Bandcamp New & Notable May 9, 2023
The Brooklyn band deliver a blissful psychedelic rock album steeped in sci-fi and spirituality, awash with organs, strings, and reverb. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 23, 2021
The latest from NY’s David Nagler is a stirring chamber-folk record with rich instrumentation and vivid, evocative lyrics. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 7, 2022
supported by 4 fans who also own “To the Wise Woman”
This is the most beautiful symphonic progressive music I have heard since I first heard Yes' Magnification nearly 20 years ago. Robert Reed's orchestrations are magnificent, and are very much on par with Trevor Rabin's film scores as well as Larry Groupe's score for Magnification. I am a french horn player, and his soaring horn parts are some of the best I have ever heard.
For some reason I could not select Part1: Sacrifice as my favorite track. It is indeed my favorite. luckeydoug1