Hedera's Debut Album Blends Global Folk Influences with Joyful Precision
The Bristol-based folk ensemble Hedera has unveiled their first album, a vibrant collection that seamlessly merges influences from diverse cultures, including Bulgaria, Bali, Ireland, and Georgia. Named after the Latin botanical term for ivy, the band comprises five close friends: violinist Lulu Austin, violin and viola player Maisie Brett, violinist and double bassist Beth Roberts, accordionist and harpist Tamsin Elliott, and clarinettist Isis Wolf-Light. Their debut establishes a mood of knotted, hypnotic locked grooves from the outset, promising a rich auditory journey.
Opening Track Sets the Tone
The album kicks off with Sterretjie, a track named after an Afrikaans word for the coastal tern bird, which also translates to little stars. Here, Brett's violin passes the melody to Wolf-Light's clarinet and Elliott's accordion with a bright, sparkling swiftness, immediately captivating listeners. This opening piece sets a precedent for the album's exploration of global traditions, executed with precision and warmth.
Moments of Joy and Springlike Warmth
Throughout the 12 tracks, moments of joy, lithe and spring-like, abound. Roberts' waltz, Mayflies in June, about a Cornish meadow, travels from minor to major keys and back, buoyed by Elliott's elegant harp-playing. Elliott, who previously impressed on the 2023 Anglo-Egyptian album So Far We Have Come with oud player Tarek Elazhary, brings a similar depth here. Another highlight, Sekar Jagat (Balinese for flower of the universe), twitches sweetly into life on prepared harp and plucked strings, then embraces a melody originally written for gamelan, showcasing the band's adept fusion of sounds.
Historical and Emotional Depth
The album also delves into historical and emotional territories. Shen Khar Venakhi, a 1,000-year-old Georgian hymn that survived Soviet purges, features all five women's voices joining in a dense, glowing mass, creating a powerful communal sound. Wolf-Light's contributions on woodwind are particularly moving, often adding tension and dolour. Her bass clarinet playing in Threnody, a startling example of a taqsim—an improvised introduction in traditional Arabic and Middle Eastern music—stands out as a highlight. Similarly, soulfulness burns in her breaths at the beginning of Koga Me Mama Rodila, a Bulgarian tune that concludes with the women humming in harmony before fading into silence.
Masterful Fusion of Influences
In an era where fusing global traditions can sometimes drain music of its specificity, Hedera's album masterfully twists together its influences, intensifying their colours. Like its ivy namesake, the music clings to what it encounters, embraces new places, and continues to grow, offering a cohesive and enriching listening experience. This debut not only highlights the band's technical skill but also their emotional resonance, making it a standout in contemporary folk music.
Other Notable Releases This Month
Also out this month, Peiriant's third album, Plant (named after the Welsh word for children), foregrounds Rose Linn-Pearl's folk-inspired fiddle melodies against her husband Dan's startling palette of twisted, processed guitars and Moogs, creating a mood that thrums with dark magic and melancholy. Finn Collinson's third album, Byway, documents journeys and songs from across the UK, highlighting the folk recorder—an instrument rarely featured in traditional music. Its gentle calls feel part of nature in tracks like Tune for a Linnet, strangely wise in The Complaint, and staunchly alert in Hare for Twenty. Additionally, Pefkin's Unfurling explores nature to more startling effect, using sounds from viola, harmonium, and electronics to map transformations from winter into spring, with a terrifying 12-minute track, My Breath the Sea, evoking the journey of Irish saints crossing to Scotland by coracle through eerie vocals and drones.
