"There is a persistent belief in alchemaic and hermetic tradition in the existence of two suns: a hidden one of pure "philosophical gold," consisting of the essential fire conjoined with aether, and the apparent one of profane "material gold." The "dark, consuming fire" of the material sun leads to its being called the "Dark" or "Black Sun."
Sol Niger was thee projekt ov Paolo Maldoror [Nigredo & Maldoror Tapes] from Lisboa, Portugal. Aside from a couple ov compilation tracks; it would appear this was thee only release for which he utilised this moniker [though there also appear to be two variations ov this cassete where thee next to last song appear as either Ars Moriendi or Maledictio].. am incredibly thankfull to {{F@R@W@Y}} for gifting this very rare cassette ov early 90's occult- industrial from thee Portuguese label: Putrefactio to our blog!!
Officium Defunctorum - refers to a musical setting of the Office of the Dead [a prayer cycle of the Liturgy of the Hours in the Roman Catholic Church, said for the repose of the soul of a deceased] composed by the Spanish Renaissance composer, Tomás Luis de Victoria in 1603. Thee track here consists ov hauntingly effected chants which evoke a darkly beatific atmospheric presence.. at about six minutes into thee piece are interspersed quiet clangs of bells for a rather short sektion.. only then to be abandoned to thee droning choral presence with it's great power!!
Obscurari Sidera [obscuring seducer?] draws one within; to places non-illumined with indecipherable feminine vocalisations mingled amongst trancing waves ov magnificent sonorism.. five minutes into thee piece the deeply effecting shriek ov a woman's cry pulls us even further into thee emerging dark atmospheres within; where there are chanting voices and beatific violin amidst thee roaring; as ov powerfull winds..
Claudatur [be it closed..] roars and distantly clangs bells; becoming quieter, and suspending us with drones amidst beatific feminine chorus; becoming alternatingly haunting & magnificent!! later thee drones become more shrill before dissipating amidst renewed female choral incantation..
Lucce Tenebrae [gloomy light] consists ov indecipherable vocal utterances making their powerfull presence amidst powerfull drones and an effecting harpsichord progression!!
Sol Niger Omnipotens [omnipotent black sun] begins with quiet sparse percussions shrouded in reverberations which increase their intensity.. suddenly a sonic void; then magnificent atmospheres [ it is as if the prima materia has reached putrefactio [the burning away ov all preconceptions] as one is held within an awe-inspiring ambiance which sustains for quite some time before becoming distant..
Ars Moriendi [The Art of Dying] is the name of two related Latin texts dating from about 1415 and 1450 which offer advice on the protocols and procedures of a good death, explaining how to "die well" according to Christian precepts of the late Middle Ages. It was written within the historical context of the effects of the macabre horrors of the Black Death 60 years earlier and consequent social upheavals of the 15th century.. sonicly: insidious atmospheres prevail; with scarce hidden choral utterances barely making themselves perceptible.. towards thee end there are a few scarce clangs and a sudden cessation..
Ecclesiastes - refers to the book ov thee Hebew Bible which emphatically proclaims all the actions of man to be inherently vain, futile, empty, meaningless, temporary, transitory, or fleeting.. powerfull vocal chants are present amidst the harshest ov feedbacks for this cassette; when suddenly all ceases, and restrained percussion makes a reverberating presence for thee concluding sektion ov this most darkly illumined ov sonorous experiences!!
Track listing:
A1 Officium Defunctorum
A2 Obscurari Sidera
A3 Claudatur
A4 Lucce Tenebrae
B1 Sol Niger Omnipotens
B2 Ars Moriendi
B3 Ecclesiastes
({{F@R@W@Y}} & crepusculum)
Just one little correction: you wrote 'Sol Niger was thee projekt ov Paolo Maldoror [Nigredo & Maldoror Tapes] from Lisboa, Portugal'.
ReplyDeletePvtrefactio(label)/Nigredo/Sol Niger were projects of Paulo Maldoror but has nothing to do (only the name) with the label Maldoror Tapes (this one from Bragança, northern Portugal). Pvtrefactio label and Maldoror Tapes are (were) not the same person.
Very grateful for posting.