‘Sirenes’ is the new single from by Danish neo-classical artist Ea Wim and, having reviewed the previous single ‘Vinterens Vinde’ (Winter Winds) which was about loneliness and weathering a hard winter away from home, this time the subject matter draws on the sirens of Greek mythology. They are always represented as very feminine but without any weakness, unlike the fragile creatures women are often portrayed as in art.
There is very little female representation in the world of Danish neo-classical music, so Ea Wim is pulling from the sirens mythos to give her strength in her musical journey. Sirens are also known for their alluring voices having appeared in the Argonautica calling to Orpheus and in Homer’s Odyssey trying to get Odysseus to crash his ship on the rocks (also referenced in Steely Dan’s ‘Home At Last’). Ea Wim’s voice more than lives up to the expectations of such a mythology being every bit as haunting and full of otherworldly charm.
Whereas ‘Vinterens Vinde’ (Winter Winds) created beauty in the tension between melancholy and hope, ‘Sirenes’ puts Wim’s exceptional voice front and centre with the harp, violin and cello mimicking the wind and waves the sirens’ voices are calling through. There is unison singing, harmony suspensions and top notes that are nearly leaving our audible register, and the call to “Dance yourself to death in the morning light” or “Just forget your name, safe in our arms” perfectly captures the exquisite danger of the sirens.
The live session version of the single is below, and it was shot in a room in Frederiksborg castle containing paintings of the First Schleswig War, of the mid- 1800s, the time when the Danish national identity was created. All the members of the ensemble are dressed as beautiful fairy-tale creatures; like sirens, or the Danish mythological creature “Elveren” a Siren of the forest. Ea herself wears a replica of Danish iron-and-Viking-age jewellery. On the floor lays a dead man, a victim of the sirens with the Danish flag covering his face, referencing the slayed soldier on the painting behind them.
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Harp: Steaph Chaimbeul
Violin: Esther Fog-Nielsen
Viola: Caroline Risbo, Gammeltoft-Hansen
Cello: Safira Nielsen
Vocal: Ea Wim
Sirenes Lyrics:
Græd nu ud / Cry it out
Her i min favn / Here in my arms
Glem nu blot dit eget navn / Just forget your own name
Græd til du bliver træt / Cry until you’re tired
Trygt i vores favn / Safe in our arms
Træd dansen med os / Dance with us
I denne verdens vemodsfyldte klang / In the melancholic sound of world
Skal du danse med os solopgang / You shall dance with us to sunrise
Dans dig selv til døde i denne morgenrøde / Dance yourself to death in the morning light
Kik så dybt in i mit brændende blik / Look so deep into my burning gaze
Den sidste glæde du fik / The last joy you you will get
Dine ord de klinger så uvant på min læber / Your words sound so unfamiliar on my lips
Dine handlinger jeg bestræber / Your actions I strive
Jeg synger din sirenesang / I sing your siren song
Stemmer i for sammenklang / Tune into the harmony
Taler dine alvorsord / Speak your big words
Priser dig min gud så stor / Praise you my god all mighty
I denne verdens vemodsfyldte klang / In the melancholic sound of world
Skal du danse med os solopgang / You shall dance with us to sunrise
Dans dig selv til døde i denne morgenrøde / Dance yourself to death in the morning light
Kik så dybt ind i mit brændende blik / Look so deep into my burning gaze
Den sidste glæde du fik / The last joy you you will get
Græd til du bliver træt / Cry until you’re tired
Glem nu blot dit navn / Just forget your name
Trygt i vores favn / Safe in our arms
Review by Paul F Cook
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