Norwegian Andrea Haugen has re-invented herself as Nebelhexe, which means "Fog Witch". No, really! According to the web site she is "…exploring the spirituality of ancient Northern Europe, bringing to life the forgotten myths and magical wisdom of her Pagan ancestors, focusing particularly on the feminine mysteries of the North and the strong position women held in Pagan cultures. Andrea is working herself with the magic of her foremothers."
Haugen was originally known for her more folk-oriented endeavors with Hagalaz Runedance and for the more brooding sounds of Aghast. She is also involved with occult and pagan groups and her writing and art has been published in these circles, and those interests are clearly the principal influence in her music. The result is ominously dark quasi-traditional folk with gothic and pagan elements.
This CD is song-oriented, with the vocals in a strong mid-range with occasional slips into falsetto in the style of the Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan, or her fellow Irishwoman, Sinead O'Connor. That singing style is backed by consistently deep bass sounds – now in heavily distorted power chords, now in deep ethnically styled drumming. The overall tone is very minor key, dark, bordering on minimalism
Several tracks are inspired by traditional Native American sounds, complete with faint chanting in the background. Others wouldn't be too far out of place on a gothic Lacuna Coil CD, and still others might be the feature song at a séance.
We have no idea what Nebelhexe means by "Andrea is working herself with the magic of her foremothers", but this it is very interesting music regardless. Progressive only in its ideas, rather deep … just what you would expect from Norway's newest Fog Witch.
Track Listing :
01. Totems
02. Laguz - Within the Lake
03. My Visual World
04. Celtic Crows
05. Wake to Wither
06. Reverse
07. Bird Song
08. Raven Night - Nightflight Mix
09. Sleeping Beauty
10. Touch of Morpheus
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