Dionysian Blood
Reviews
Totentanz Webzine:
May 23, 2000
Dionysian Blood
"Dionysian Blood"
is the first release of Beltane, a young gothic rock duo from Australia.
It features five tracks of relatively classic female-sung gothic rock,
combined with some light electronic background. Tunes are either played
at the guitar or completely synthetic (like the "fake" dionysian flute
on the title track). Flowing very nicely and quite up-paced, the music
of this band may remind of the current gothic rock coming from England.
Beltane has the same way of mixing electronics (used as a kind of accompaniment)
with classic guitars and a rather smiling female voice. And, finally,
like several other goth bands of the moment, Beltane is a light-hearted
band, definitely out of any gloomy mood. The result is nice and fresh,
even if it doesn't bring anything new to the genre.
This CD also features
a video for "Dionysian Blood", which turns to be a dance performance,
trying to reproduce a rather mild version of dionysian rites. Well done
but somehow too abstract and modern looking, it didn't seduce me, however
a good initiative it can be. Finally, "Dionysian Blood" is a nice CD
from a band that sounds enthusiastic. Fresh sounding happy goth with
a light folk touch.
Prospective
Magazine (Dec 1999)
Dionysian Blood
MiniCD, Definitive
What new I could say about this minialbum of my Australian favourites,
Beltane. Paul Handley still knows how to write songs and Karina Eames
sings like a Siren. This time there's also a CDRom-track including a
videoclip of the title song. The concept and production of this clip
is done by Paul Handley. I can't name the best song as every track is
to my tastes. And I want more...
Jyrki Virtanen [8/10]
http://www.prospective.nu
Rip It Up Magazine
(Adelaide) 2/3/00
Reviewed by Industrial
Tool VS Penni Pappas
Dionysian Blood
(Definitive)
The Red Corner:
local duo Beltane go right for the jugular, if you are into a "Blood
& Black Daliahs" (3Dfm Gothic Show) type thing. Their first
release contains five tracks, some different I would assume to the intended
full length disk versions, as well as a CD ROM video of the title track
which is great… assuming you have the hardware!
Musically Beltane
create an intoxicating mix of This Mortal Coil, Cocteau Twins
and Coptic Rain, with a touch of Nico in Karina's vocals.
Dionysian Blood would go down great with a Vodka and Raspberry
in the wee hours at the Proscenium.
The Blue Corner:
Beltane has created an atmospheric first release with Dionysian Blood.
A release that exudes mood, eeriness and all the time it remains music
that it contemplative and creates space for the listener. Beltane has
mastered quite a unique style. They have combined all the above mentioned
elements and also another dimension care of Paul Handley's extensive
knowledge of synthesisers and electronic programming. Each song creates
a story with Paul's well-crafted lyrics forcing each track to delve
you into Beltane's dark and mysterious world. That's not to take anything
away from Karina Eames's light and ethereal vocals which have the listener
hooked on each word like a dog to a bone. This five track CD also features
a CD-ROM of the title track single Dionysian Blood. A good listen
all round with added features make's Beltane's release quite a little
gem!
Industrial Tool
VS Penni Pappas
Rip It Up
(Adelaide) 10/8/98
Reviewed
by Nazz
Schones
An Sich promo
The side Project
of Prototype's talented keyboard man, Paul Handley Beltane offer one
of the most individual sounds of the Adelaide scene today. add a mix
of Gothic themes and 80’s intelligent synth to what's essentially
a collection of near-electro-industrialian ghostly hymns and you're
starting to get an idea of Beltane's range.
Aside from the two
ethereal female vocalists (nice job ladies!), Paul handles most of the
instrumentation himself (synth, programming and bass), though a couple
of guests turn up to lend an able hand. Fellow Prototyper Aaron Hewson
delivers a few choice guitar parts and Stolen Waters' Luch provides
some nimble pulse-bass to Elation.
11 songs are present
here - I'm not sure if the CD is commercially available but if anyone,
Big Star, Pneumatic or Verandah would know - and when heard in its entirety,
Scho~nes An Sich manages to transport the listener to an entirely
different sparse alien soiindscape than we usually get here at RIU.
It'd
be fair to say this
wasn't the most cheerful of music but it certainly isn’t out-and-out
depressing. Mournful maybe or' if anything, it's almost a musical phantasm,
eerie yet spiritual.
A treat for progressive
Goths and fans of dark music -whether old style or new. Scho~nes
An Sich mightn't be an easy listen but it is a chillingly good
listen.
Rip It Up (Adelaide)
15/7/97
Reviewed by Nazz
4 song demo
High quality synth
driven stuff from Prototype’s talent keymaster. As expected, it’s
highly atmospheric (the songs tend toward the loonger variety) and well
realised with interesting contributions from an emotive female vocalists.
Kinda like an offshoot from '80s, dark, Proscenium-type pop with the
cahones delicately put back on. This aint for sale hut if it’s
a taste tester for a possible band, I say "bring ‘em on".
Beltane would have bugger all competition and all the cards in their
hand. Plenty of serious young things would flock to soak up the atmosphere.
A good change of pace. 8.5
Home