Ars Poetica
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Ethereal
Status:
First and only known recording, Ars Poetica (1993)
Comparisons:
Ars Poetica sounds like Love Spirals Downwards vectored in the direction of Rose Chronicles. (maeldun@i-2000.com)
Covers/own material:
Own material
General comments:
The vocals are passionate, the music dreamy. (maeldun@i-2000.com)
Recommended first album:
Ars Poetica is their only known release
Recordings:
Ars Poetica (1993)
Ars Poetica
Release info:
1993—Ars Poetica—#IG88
Availability:
Available in Seattle.
Ecto priority:
Recommended for lovers/collectors of ethereal music. (Neile)
Group members:
Stephanie Wicker—vocals, lyrics, piano
Don Durham—guitar, jangles, six strings, 12 strings, percussion
Dennis Harrington—bass, fretless bass, percussion
Brian Camp—synth, piano, samples, percussion
Comments:
A passionate, dreamy album that has become fully integrated into my heart. It is now one of my top 5 albums *ever*.
The 8 tracks and 45 minutes of Ars Poetica go by in a flash, concluding with two ambient sound collages. It's almost as if the passion of the earlier tracks was finally overwhelmed by the hurricane against which it struggled. With the vocals swept out to sea, Ars Poetica closes with a sound evocative of twinkling stars, scuttling crabs and seaweed strewn across the beach.
The album is gorgeous. Woody at C'est La Mort recommended it and acquired it for me. He described it as Area with a bigger production budget. *I* describe it as Love Spirals Downwards vectored in the direction of Rose Chronicles. And I think Stephanie Wicker, the lead singer, has a better voice than either chanteuse of the aforementioned bands.
The album closes with two ambient sound collages of which I didn't think much at first, but now I accept and enjoy them as a fitting conclusion. I was worried that the CD would wear thin on me, but it still gives me chills when I hear Stephanie Wicker's voice calling on the first track, appropriately entitled, "Trap". (maeldun@i-2000.com)I am less blown away by the disc, but find it a very pleasant album in the ethereal style. It's lovely, but doesn't seem to me to be doing anything that distinctively different. Still very worth finding if you're an ethereal music fan. (Neile)
