Leaders of European Neofolk at the "Dom" Cultural Center

On February 12, Moscow fans of European dark folk and neofolk will have the opportunity to attend a performance by the German projects Orplid and Barditus at the "Dom" Cultural Center. Uwe Nolte, the leader and conceptual inspirer of both formations, was once at the origins of the cult label Eis&Licht, the first release of which was the debut self-titled album of Orplid. Over the past 10 years, the group has undergone changes in its lineup and switched labels – it is now with Prophecy Productions, where their new album Greifenherz has just been released – one of the best neofolk works of 2008. The materials from this disc, as well as old well-known hits, are planned to delight Russian listeners at their Moscow concert. Additionally, part of the program will include a set of compositions from Uwe's other project – Barditus. Representing Russia at the event will be the Tyumen band System of Security, whose hallmark is the fusion of orthodox dark folk elements in the style of Current 93 with the traditions of Siberian authentic post-punk.

The Orplid project was created by Uwe Nolte and Frank Mahau in 1996 in the Saxon city of Halle under the motto "Preservation and Revival of German Poetry." The name of the group is taken from a poem by the 19th-century German poet Eduard Mörike "Gesang Weylas," which describes an exotic paradise island where divine accord and harmony reign. In line with the name, the musicians strive to offer listeners a kind of refuge from the imperfections of this world amid beauty, poetry, and music.

Stylistically, the project is a classic example of German neofolk, alongside artists such as Darkwood, Sonne Hagal, and Forseti. Recently, Orplid has demonstrated a greater interest than their counterparts in both electronics and neoclassicism.

In the broadest sense, the concept of the project, its lyrics, music, and visual means can be characterized as "lyrical art." The themes of the songs cover a wide range from German paganism and Greek mythology to the Christian symbolism of the early Middle Ages and the deification of nature characteristic of the Romantic era. Along with lyrics written by Uwe Nolte himself, Orplid's compositions have also featured works by notable German poets such as Friedrich Schiller, Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, Joseph von Eichendorff, Gottfried Benn, Frank Wedekind, and Rolf Shilling.

The discography of the project includes five albums: "Orplid" (1998), "Naechtliche Juenger" (2002), "Sterbender Satyr" (2006), "Fruehe Werke" (2007), and "Greifenherz" (2008). All of them were significant events in the contemporary neofolk scene; however, the latest – "Heart of the Griffin" – surpassed all expectations and received enthusiastic reviews from both critics and listeners, including those not part of Orplid's dedicated fanbase.

The band has several side projects – Sonnentau, primus inter pares, and Barditus. The latter represents a tougher and rock-oriented side of the artists' creativity, their militant alter-ego, as reflected in the project’s very name. Barditus is an ancient German word denoting a battle song or cry, the echo of which, evoked by "shields raised to the mouth," was used to predict the outcome of battle.

In addition to the elaborate program including compositions from Orplid over the years and a set of Barditus tracks, the artists are also preparing a special surprise track for Russian listeners for their Moscow concert that should leave no one indifferent.

www.orplid.de→
www.noltex.de→
www.barditus.org→
www.myspace.com/noltex→

The project "System of Security" is one of the "old" Tyumen bands, organized by Vladimir (VlaDom) Doronin in 1993. Since then, the group has recorded about thirty albums and given numerous concerts in various cities across the country: Tyumen, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and others. The main leitmotif of the work of SI.BE. is reflection on the fate of man, his quest for freedom and eternity.

www.sistemabezopasnosti.ru→