Andy Aquarius is a Berlin-based harpist, multi-instrumentalist and I’ve been writing about his music since I first heard the album Chapel in 2021. His new release is Holy Glade, three-tracks written during a second retreat to the remote Church of the Holy Cross deep in the Croatian mountains. He describes it as a location “surrounded by bears, an uncropped wilderness and a deep silence that’s only broken up by the occasional passing by of one of the few villagers that still inhabit the area.” The tracks were all composed specifically for the church and the recorded within its walls.
Aquarius is an artist who loves to draw inspiration from locations, something beautifully on show in the video for ‘Reverdie’, shot live in the Varinian forest as he improvises on the harp, seemingly duetting with the birds. This is taken from the mostly instrumental and breathtaking Forest Grimoire album.
On Holy Glade only the opening track ‘Der Brunnen’ (The Fountain) is instrumental and it demonstrates Andy’s ability to draw out a repeated pattern of notes that is then embellished with flourishes that leap from low to high notes that cover the full range of the Celtic Harp.
‘Bell-Shaped Days’ and the title track ‘Holy Glade’ utilise Aquarius’s soft but rich voice which floats in tandem with the harp; always clear unadorned only by the natural ambience of the church’s space. The lyrics never detract from the mood adding another dimension to the meditative environment the songs create.
These are songs that show how Andy Aquarius is someone who loves to draw energy from a location. The clarity of recording is modern, but the content feels like it is tapping into our ancient past, the mystical power of the forest as well as giving voice to elemental forces. This is benign music that offers tranquillity and solace, a glorious antonym to the rage and retribution the world seems to be filling up with nowadays. Harp and heart in glorious harmony.
The album was recorded in the memory of his good friend Calvin Chynoweth.
Andy Aquarius socials: Instagram | Facebook | Website
Review by Paul F Cook
Keep up to date with all new content on Joyzine via our
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Mailing List