Released 1997 Length 72:11 Release date 1997 Genre Dark wave | Recorded 1996-April 5, 1997 Producer Sopor Aeternus Label Apocalyptic Vision | |
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The inexperienced Spiral Traveller
(1997) "Voyager - The Jugglers of Jusa"
(1997) Artist Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows Similar Todeswunsch ‑ Sous le soleil de, Ich töte mich, Voyager: The Jugglers, Songs from the Inverted, Dead Lovers' Sarabande | ||
Sopor aeternus the ensemble of shadows the inexperienced spiral traveller full album
The inexperienced Spiral Traveller (aus dem Schoß der Hölle ward geboren die Totensonne) (German: "from the Womb of Hell was born the Sun of the Dead") is the third album by darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows, and was released in 1997. The inexperienced Spiral Traveller continued the Renaissance- and Baroque-inspired sound of "Todeswunsch - Sous le soleil de Saturne", but with tighter arrangements and the re-introduction of drum machines. A limited edition of 3,000 copies was initially available alongside the regular edition, and the album has been re-issued at least twice since.
Contents
Sopor aeternus and the ensemble of shadows the inexperienced spiral traveller ii
Overview
The inexperienced Spiral Traveller was the first album to set the sound of Sopor in stone, with its tighter, more expressive arrangements and full utilization of strings and brass. The musical palette was enhanced by the edition of actual violin, cello and lute players, where synthesizers had been previously used. Drum machines were also integrated with the live percussion on several songs, and production values were at their highest yet with full use of studio techniques, as heard on opening track "Sylla'borêal". Despite this, Anna-Varney Cantodea has publicly stated her distaste for the album, stating:
Hmm... Well... Let's put it this way: The inexperienced Spiral Traveller, has been the worst album I have ever recorded... And after that... It slowly got better.
Similar comments were made about the accompanying remix album, "Voyager - The Jugglers of Jusa".
The subject matter of the album mainly deals with the isolation brought on by Cantodea's illnesses through life. It has been stated in interviews that one illness nearly blinded her permanently, and much of the imagery of the album comes from that episode. The identity of the "loyal friend" mentioned is unknown (although many fans now believe this reference is primarily to depression), but on the later-released "La Chambre D'Echo" - Where the dead Birds sing, Cantodea states that "this once so loyal friend ..., he's not that welcome anymore." The song "Birth - Fiendish Figuration" was re-recorded for this album, while "May I kiss your Wound ?" would be re-recorded for "Songs from the inverted Womb".
In 2004, The inexperienced Spiral Traveller was re-issued with entirely new artwork, including radically new art and liner notes. The new artwork emulates a tourism package, including a passport and the photographs from the older version encaspulated in Polaroid borders. The back cover also featured a mock advertisement for the Synchro-Box, quoted to be "the best device to travel the continuum".
Track listing
All tracks written by Anna-Varney Cantodea.
Personnel
Songs
1Sylla'boreal (Embracing the Dead Prior to the Service)5:06
2Question(s) Beyond Terms (Who Is Confronting the Impossible?)5:45
3C'ayllagher a Dom'bhrail (There Is No Need to Remind Me)0:59