From our 3rd CD Ariel, on Prikosnovénie, France: ‘The Garden of Live Flowers’ portrays an enchanted garden in any Wonderland, above or beneath an ocean, within or beyond Dreaming. It was recorded in two studios, a year apart, with different producers & arrangements. Spring and Eden versions were then edited, chopped, reassembled & grafted, so Alice moves between sonic realms, through doors in Dreaming. Shrinking, expanding, the song sometimes even drops out completely ... can you can find Alice in the silences? Free-fall, or fall to freedom?
‘And your cards are all blowing away in a Marmalade Parade’: my pun on the music ‘jam’ irreverently upturns the ‘gravy train’, an industry loop in which everyone but the artist cashes in on the produce.
‘The Queen was in the parlour, eating bread and honey’ ... so goes the nursery rhyme, but Alice wasn’t intimidated by royalty: ‘You are only a pack of cards!’
lyrics
Alice is falling oh-h, Alice is falling ohh-h
and your cards are all blowing away
in a marmalade parade -
and your caterpillar is shaking
did I hear him say – ?
Take your Boots of Snow - Enter The Garden of Live Flowers!
Take your Wings of Pie an’ fly into the Eye of the Blackbird –
Alice is falling, ohh-h, Alice is falling, oh-h...
well the King’s in the parlour
and something is wrong with his head -
and the Queen and the Joker were
Seasoned an’ Served with the bread - they said:
Take your Boots of Snow - Enter The Garden of Live Flowers!
Take your Wings of Pie an’ fly into the Eye of the Blackbird –
of the Live, of the Live, of the Live Flowers!
Enter The Garden! Enter The Garden!
Alice is falling oh-h, Alice is falling ohh-h
gnillaf si ecilA, h-ho, gnillaf si ecilA
credits
from Ariel - full album 2000,
released February 6, 2021
Lyrics, Melodies: Louisa John-Krol
Vocals, Mandolin, Xylophone, Güiro, Zill: Louisa John-Krol
Tambourine, Triangle, Cymbal: Harry Williamson & Brett Taylor
Paper Drum: Harry Williamson
Chapman Stick / Bass, Rickenbacker: Brett Taylor
Bass Midi Keyboards: Louisa John-Krol, programmed by Harry Williamson
Synths, Electric Guitars: Harry Williamson & Brett Taylor
Produced by both Harry Williamson & Brett Taylor in their respective studios, mixed with Wonderlandish effects by Harry Williamson, working with a collage of two versions from each studio.
Photographed here is the lid of a teapot painted by Karan Wicks, also responsible for the painting on Ariel's cover.
Louisa is an Australian singer, composer, writer & faery storyteller who has released many albums of ethereal music on indie labels, primarily in France. She's completing a fantasy series, The Elderbrook Chronicles, with a soundtrack.
"All Becompassed by Stars" (Dandelion Wine): Genre-bending contemporary medieval trance, with psychedelic eclectic mix of modern & ancient instruments, quirky lyrics and sophisticated production. Louisa John-Krol
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This album carries one of my favourite recordings by this legendary mythic rock band: Adrienne's song 'The Children of Lir'. It's so good that it feels like a traditional ballad. Louisa John-Krol
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