“I am going to stand against him now, though his hands are like flame,
though his hands are like flame, and his heart like the shining of iron.”
“The circle was done and the fire arrived… Outside: the river, the castle… Clisson, France… This music is the result of our common quest, it is the sound of our hearts…”
About Love Sessions 1
The first of two collaborative albums, recorded in 2001 & 2003 respectively, in the medieval village of Clisson (see also Love Sessions 2)
Produced by Frederic Chaplain, co-owner-manager of Prikosnovenie
Both involving Francesco Banchini (Gor), Frederic Chaplain (Lys) & Louisa John-Krol
Other participants in each volume, such as Spyros Giasafakis (Daemonia Nymphe), are named in Credits.
A musical meeting made of love and ancestral roots, between musicians from France, Australia, Italy, Greece.
Tracks & Lyrics
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Music / Lyrics: Louisa John-Krol
Lyrics
Silver Dante O’ Dore
Silver flying over Water
Virgil of Limbo
Golden Carrier of ancient Fire
Silver Dante O’Dore
Elderardo of Oceans
Golden Desert and Ocean
Elderardo of olden Lore
Elderardo of Gold Interior
Gold Interior of Eyes in Fire
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Music / Lyrics: Louisa John-Krol
Lyrics
When they come you would not tell the madman from the brave
When they go you would not know the dead man from the sane
When they fight you would not find a reason for the way
Over the Border
When they come
When they fight
When they play
When they die
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Music / Lyrics: Louisa John-Krol
A prelude to Elderbrook, due 2013
Lyrics
I am the Faerie no-one sees,
I am the Witch for cursing,
I am the Story nobody reads,
For nobody knows the words!
See her dancing in the Fountain-song,
See the Lady in Green
She will lead you to a distant land
And shadow you in your dreams:
Oh willow on the water
Could not be greener than me!
I shall be Queen of Alderbee
And powerful as the sea.
I’ve a Harpist in my head,
Colder than the moonlight
He will hold me to Eternity
And follow me through the sunlight!
Oh willow on the water…
Well I’ve a tale on a cursing loom
Causing lovers to fall:
There a unicorn will break his heart
For love at Sir Malder’s Castle….
Who’ll dare to stop me, or
Am I beyond your reach?
Don’t stand before a Lady,
You shall walk beside me!
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I am a lover, skilled in the arts of madness;
I have drunk deeply of culture and learning
— Rumi
Ogni attimo vi porta nuove fronde
e il suo sbigottimento avanza ogni altra
gioia fugace; viene a impetuose onde
la vita a questo estremo angolo d’orto.
Lo sguardo ora vi cade su le zolle;
una risacca di memorie giunge
al vostro cuore e quasi lo sommerge.
— Eugenio Montale, from Crisalide
English translation of the above lines:
Each instant fetches you fresh leaves
and each new tremor of joy is overwhelmed
by your surprise: life in surging waves
whelms this farthest garden corner.
Now your gaze falls to the ground;
your heart, lapped by memories
washing back, almost drowns.
— Eugenio Montale, from Chrysalis
We’ve crossed… cultures, joining together our hearts and feelings to give you this little jewel, hopeful that it will touch your heart
— Francesco Banchini
Blending our cultures through music is a gift given to us. To enjoy our differences we must try to keep our civilizations alive.
— Spyros Giasafakis
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Label
Love Sessions – both volumes recorded by Frederic Chaplain in France
Released on French label Prikosnovenie, respectively in 2002 and 2005
Artwork
Design: Sabine-Adelaide
Calligraphy: Robinson Deschamps
Production
Recorded, programmed, mixed & mastered by Frederic Chaplain at Prikosnovenie in Clisson, France
Video: Arno Pellerin, France
Thanks
Francesco, Frederic, Mandragora, Sabine, Arno, the ghosts and faeries of Clisson, our families and everyone else who made this dream possible.
Spyros Giasafakis (Daemonia Nymphe), Greece
Flute #9; Table Harp, Percussion #3, #6; Voice #3, #6, #9 (bass vox), #11, #12; Tambourine #3, #12; Pandourida #12
Francesco Banchini (Gor), Italy
Flute, Guitar, Bendir, Firesticks, Froufrou, Cymbol #2, #4, #10, #11; Voice #3, #12; Clarinet, etc #5
Frederic Chaplain (Lys), France
Voice #3, #9 (bass vox), #11, #12; Electronic Effects #1, #4, #6, #7, #8, #10, #11; Production
Louisa John-Krol, Australia
Voice #1, #3, #4, #6, #8, #9, #10, #12; Acoustic Guitar #1; Table Harp #8
Marlene Etrillard, France
Whispers and/or Vocal Harmonies #1, #6, #8, #11, #12
Guests
Voice in #2: Liz Van Dort (Faraway), recorded by Harry Williamson
Violin in #2: Anne Berry (Azara)
Guitar in #5: David Sauvourel
Voices in #7: Sergio Panarella (Ashram)
Daouli in #12: Evi Stergiou (Daemonia Nymphe)
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“Louisa’s voice is wonderful. I don’t know any other singer with such casual control. Her songwriting is literate and lovely. I first came across her on Love Sessions I and Love Sessions II, a sort-of jam session of artists on a French label. Try to get those if you can, as well as Louisa’s solo work.”
— News from the Other Grovem posted at www.cdbaby.com/cd/louisa, USA
“Superb… fairy pop music… medieval, folk, Middle-East, Balkanic influences. The magnificent voice of Louisa John-Krol supported by dreamy melodies of the talented and multi-instrumentalist Francesco Banchini and the ancient Greek instruments of Daemonia Nymphe… electronic experimentations by Lys… A very beautiful album, with warm Mediterranean atmospheres and folk sensuality. Excellent!”
— Heimdallr 2003, www.heimdallr.ch
“In un episodio di Sandman, Neil Gaiman ipotizzò che William Shakespeare potesse aver stipulato un patto con il Signore dei Sogni, il quale gli avrebbe fornito l’ispirazione per le proprie opere: in cambio, tra le altre cose, gli sarebbe stata richiesta la rappresentazione di una delle sue commedie (Sogno di una notte di mezza estate) davanti a Oberon, Titania e al popolo di Faerie. Qualcosa di molto simile deve aver fatto Frédéric Chaplain, titolare della Prikosnovénie, data l’elevatissima qualità delle sue produzioni in… musica eterea, che fanno della sua etichetta una garanzia di assoluta qualità. Il disco in questione non fa che sottolineare una volta di più quanto detto sopra; è bene sottolineare da subito che non si tratta di una semplice compilation, bensì di una collaborazione tra lo stesso Chaplain, Francesco Banchini (GOR, Ataraxia), Louisa John-Krol, Spiros Giasafakis (Daemonia Nymphe) e Marlène Etrillard, supportati in alcuni brani da altri ottimi musicisti (tra cui Sergio Panarella della rivelazione Ashram)… Insieme hanno creato un disco splendido sotto ogni aspetto, ricco di delicate suggestioni che mescolano culture diverse: dalle reminescenze celtiche sottolineate dalla dolcissima voce della cantante australiana alle splendide atmosfere create dal genio inesauribile e vulcanico di Francesco Banchini; dalle atmosfere create dai campionatori di Chaplain alla malinconia mediterranea del suono di Giasafakis. Impossibile trovare una caduta di tono, un solo brano che non spinga ad urlare al capolavoro, un istante che non sia pieno di cultura ed ispirazione; altrettanto impossibile scegliere uno o più brani: sarebbe un’offesa nei confronti di tutti gli altri. Non posso far altro che fermarmi qui, a malincuore, con una domanda che continua a girarmi nella testa: a quando un festival Prikosnovénie in un bosco, davanti alle folte schiere di fate e folletti?”
— Ver Sacrum, www.versacrum.com, Italy
“A particular project… remembered me what 4AD created with This Mortal Coil: label’s mate who… record together a bunch of songs, sharing thoughts and emotions… For Love Sessions: Francesco Banchini (Gor & Ataraxia), Spyros Giasafakis (Daemonia Nymphe), Louisa John-Krol, Marléne Etrillard and Frédéric Chaplain (Lys) plus guests… first three of the list (plus Frédéric Chaplain for ‘Sacrum II’ and ‘Les Cloches De Clisson’ with Spyros) wrote the music and played… various instruments such as: violin, percussions, table harp, guitar, flute cymbal, pandourida… recordings took place in medieval city of Clisson on 2001 and 2002 and Fred Chaplain took care of mixing, engineering… songs respect solo works of the people who wrote the songs… balanced situation… emphasized by the voice of Louisa, by Spyros’ Greek ancient sounds enriched by LYS’ samples. Each track has got his own fascination and I appreciated… particularly: ‘Dante O’ Doré’, ‘Etheros’ and ‘Over The Border’. For sure the lovers of fairy and folk sounds will appreciate this CD.”
— Maurizio Pustianaz, Chain D.L.K. id#653, Italy
“Not even in your wildest dreams can you imagine this journey… you will be embraced by millions of sweet melodies and enchanting voices that will lead your mind into places never seen before… A piece of art that speaks straight to your heart. A trip that has no boundaries. You can consider me as a romantic fool, and maybe I am. On other occasions I might be completely seduced by the beauty of this recording.”
— John Zikos, Moonshadows magazine (no longer publishing), Greece