I first downloaded "Queen of Cities" over a year ago, and was instantly struck by a number of things
a) How the descriptions of Turkey, of the Bosphorus and Istanbul seem to draw me into a landscape where East meets West and where so many of the Church's roots can be found (this album, though sonically different, has a similar effect on me that Loreena McKennit's "An Ancient Muse" has on me...I begin longing for the bazaars, the camel trains and the connection with all who have gone before me)
b) it is an album of exquisite poetry and gorgeous orchestration, both of which serve to undergird the message of God to His church
c) it channels the spirit of Sigur Ros at their most elegant and understated; yet also has the feel of an acoustic Pearl Jam session
Queen of Cities is an album that is in no hurry. It languorously moved from the glockenspiel led intro to the almost primal urgency of the title track, a wedding song from God to His Bride. Then we ease back into the Mogwai-esque build of "Asleep in the Breakers" before slipping into a simple acoustic guitar-driven picture postcard of the city of Kadıköy. We then follow the songwriters into the daybreak (or is it twilight?) of "A Dwindling Dawn", replete with gentle hand claps, echoing guitars and a repeated musical theme that gives the song a beauty in structure. The album continues with perhaps one of the most beautiful, and heart-breaking, songs, I've ever heard, written from God to His unfaithful bride, the Church. Hosea could have written this song. Finally we are left on a note of hope: "I crown you with my love, for all eternity. i see who you've become, most fair of all queens"
This album affects me on many levels: I am reminded of when I was 16 and I visited my pen friend in Rijeka, Croatia. For some reason, "Kadikoy", and "A dwindling dawn" instantly take me back there. On the other hand, the love-letters from God, not as Father, but as Husband, speak into my soul - words of pride, intense passion, utter heartbreak and finally hope restored.
Do yourself a favour, download this album, and tell your friends about it. Not only is it musically one of the most stunning albums I've yet to hear, but it is also one of many layers - all waiting to be peeled back to reveal yet another layer of alluring depth. Oh, and it's free!
Thank you, Luna Roslyn for this gift.
Dan
Downloading instructions are at the bottom of this review.
a) How the descriptions of Turkey, of the Bosphorus and Istanbul seem to draw me into a landscape where East meets West and where so many of the Church's roots can be found (this album, though sonically different, has a similar effect on me that Loreena McKennit's "An Ancient Muse" has on me...I begin longing for the bazaars, the camel trains and the connection with all who have gone before me)
b) it is an album of exquisite poetry and gorgeous orchestration, both of which serve to undergird the message of God to His church
c) it channels the spirit of Sigur Ros at their most elegant and understated; yet also has the feel of an acoustic Pearl Jam session
Queen of Cities is an album that is in no hurry. It languorously moved from the glockenspiel led intro to the almost primal urgency of the title track, a wedding song from God to His Bride. Then we ease back into the Mogwai-esque build of "Asleep in the Breakers" before slipping into a simple acoustic guitar-driven picture postcard of the city of Kadıköy. We then follow the songwriters into the daybreak (or is it twilight?) of "A Dwindling Dawn", replete with gentle hand claps, echoing guitars and a repeated musical theme that gives the song a beauty in structure. The album continues with perhaps one of the most beautiful, and heart-breaking, songs, I've ever heard, written from God to His unfaithful bride, the Church. Hosea could have written this song. Finally we are left on a note of hope: "I crown you with my love, for all eternity. i see who you've become, most fair of all queens"
This album affects me on many levels: I am reminded of when I was 16 and I visited my pen friend in Rijeka, Croatia. For some reason, "Kadikoy", and "A dwindling dawn" instantly take me back there. On the other hand, the love-letters from God, not as Father, but as Husband, speak into my soul - words of pride, intense passion, utter heartbreak and finally hope restored.
Do yourself a favour, download this album, and tell your friends about it. Not only is it musically one of the most stunning albums I've yet to hear, but it is also one of many layers - all waiting to be peeled back to reveal yet another layer of alluring depth. Oh, and it's free!
Thank you, Luna Roslyn for this gift.
Dan
Downloading instructions are at the bottom of this review.
Queen of Cities
Into the water running down your center aisle
I nudge the sun off her shelf--turn it all to gold
Glittering with your crown
I sing over you with shouts
They echo down the mediterranean fringe of your gown
Queen of Cities, you shine, dressed in minarets
I’m spinning under your lights
Tracing your silhouette
Bridges separate and divide your heart
Lift your ancient gates
And let down your guard, my love
You curtsey caught between two continents
And line ferryboats of red up as a sash
Now blushing you're off your feet
Ruined castles line your sea
I'd make a ballroom floor to turn you round and round
Of all the cities, you are the queen
The Love You Had at First
Our screen door unhinged
and woke me late one morning
Clouds trailed above
Gravel roads you turned to dust
Winding up the sky
Mistresses all climb
Toward a gold veneer
Promising a joy just sweeter
From of all time i set
My love upon you like handwoven dress
It drags behind you up these spiral steps
But you find no rest
On a rusted box spring
Wet mascara smears your cheeks
The underwater caves
Once in your eyes collapsed as graves
"The heart of a whore"
I hear cannot be won as yours
But I hope against all hope
Spilling my blood I stained Calvary rose
Cut every penitent line
You're rehearsing my darling, my bride
I became your curse
To bring you home
To the love you had at first
Into the water running down your center aisle
I nudge the sun off her shelf--turn it all to gold
Glittering with your crown
I sing over you with shouts
They echo down the mediterranean fringe of your gown
Queen of Cities, you shine, dressed in minarets
I’m spinning under your lights
Tracing your silhouette
Bridges separate and divide your heart
Lift your ancient gates
And let down your guard, my love
You curtsey caught between two continents
And line ferryboats of red up as a sash
Now blushing you're off your feet
Ruined castles line your sea
I'd make a ballroom floor to turn you round and round
Of all the cities, you are the queen
The Love You Had at First
Our screen door unhinged
and woke me late one morning
Clouds trailed above
Gravel roads you turned to dust
Winding up the sky
Mistresses all climb
Toward a gold veneer
Promising a joy just sweeter
From of all time i set
My love upon you like handwoven dress
It drags behind you up these spiral steps
But you find no rest
On a rusted box spring
Wet mascara smears your cheeks
The underwater caves
Once in your eyes collapsed as graves
"The heart of a whore"
I hear cannot be won as yours
But I hope against all hope
Spilling my blood I stained Calvary rose
Cut every penitent line
You're rehearsing my darling, my bride
I became your curse
To bring you home
To the love you had at first
The band writes:
One November afternoon, while on a visit to Turkey, Mark had the idea to write a song about the city of Istanbul from the perspective of God speaking to His bride, the Church. Alex was immediately smitten with the notion and, over the next few days, that concept quickly morphed into a three song EP.
From there the two of them enlisted the talent of several friends and, in the ensuing ten months, further developed the idea, communicating mainly through an endless stream of emails. This past spring and summer, the full band, under the name "Luna Roslyn", recorded the songs, which had expanded to a total of seven tracks.
Entirely self-written, produced and engineered, we are excited to finally share our music. The album, is entitled "Queen of Cities - EP"
Luna Roslyn is: Mark, Seth, Mike & Aaron Kates, Nick Mimikos, Rob Barnes, Ryan Stringer, & Alex
To download Queen of Cities for free click here.
To download their brand new single (Michigan) for free click here.
To read their lyrics (in English and Turkish) on Facebook, click here.
One November afternoon, while on a visit to Turkey, Mark had the idea to write a song about the city of Istanbul from the perspective of God speaking to His bride, the Church. Alex was immediately smitten with the notion and, over the next few days, that concept quickly morphed into a three song EP.
From there the two of them enlisted the talent of several friends and, in the ensuing ten months, further developed the idea, communicating mainly through an endless stream of emails. This past spring and summer, the full band, under the name "Luna Roslyn", recorded the songs, which had expanded to a total of seven tracks.
Entirely self-written, produced and engineered, we are excited to finally share our music. The album, is entitled "Queen of Cities - EP"
Luna Roslyn is: Mark, Seth, Mike & Aaron Kates, Nick Mimikos, Rob Barnes, Ryan Stringer, & Alex
To download Queen of Cities for free click here.
To download their brand new single (Michigan) for free click here.
To read their lyrics (in English and Turkish) on Facebook, click here.