TITLE: Tales of Witchcraft and Wonder
AUTHOR: Candia and Tony McKormack
PUBLISHER: Pagan Fire Muzick
ISBN: 1513665804
PODCAST EPISODE: None
REVIEWER: Mark Norman
The bank Inkubus Sukkubus are a driving force in the British Pagan folk rock scene. Forming in 1989 they have 25 studio albums to their name and their gothic style features many songs based on true-life folklore, dark superstition, myth and magic.
The "Tales of Witchcraft and Wonder" in the title refers to a trilogy of albums featuring songs on this theme: Barrow Wake, Belas Knap and Sabrina - Goddess of the Severn.
Tales of Witchcraft and Wonder (the book) selects 13 of the songs from this trilogy and examines the folklore behind the song. Each chapter begins with the lyrics of the song, followed by a retelling of the story upon which they are based and analysis of the tale.
Chapters are alternately written by Candia and Tony McKormack, the husband and wife team behind Inkubus Sukkubus (Candia being the singer and Tony guitarist as well as both of them songwriting). The authors also provide the illustrations throughout the book.
If you are thinking that a couple of gothic rock musicians are not going to be first choice as authors of a decent folklore book, then I advise you to think again. And then keep rethinking until you understand that they absolutely can write such a book! Both Candia and Tony are well respected for their knowledge of themes behind the lyrics of their songs and their treatment of folklore and tales examined in this book are respectful, erudite and just plain well-researched.
I will allow that you should not be looking for an in-depth treatment of these stories; this book should be seen to serve as an introduction to the stories, a way of leading you into further research of anything you find especially interesting (and a good bibliography is provided at the back of the book for this purpose) and a peek behind the curtain of some of the Inkubus Sukkubus songs. And if you haven't heard them before, all you need to do is listen to the 13-track CD bundled with this book! A wonderful little book, recommended on back cover by Professor Ronald Hutton and Dr Janine Ramirez, and on here by me.
AUTHOR: Candia and Tony McKormack
PUBLISHER: Pagan Fire Muzick
ISBN: 1513665804
PODCAST EPISODE: None
REVIEWER: Mark Norman
The bank Inkubus Sukkubus are a driving force in the British Pagan folk rock scene. Forming in 1989 they have 25 studio albums to their name and their gothic style features many songs based on true-life folklore, dark superstition, myth and magic.
The "Tales of Witchcraft and Wonder" in the title refers to a trilogy of albums featuring songs on this theme: Barrow Wake, Belas Knap and Sabrina - Goddess of the Severn.
Tales of Witchcraft and Wonder (the book) selects 13 of the songs from this trilogy and examines the folklore behind the song. Each chapter begins with the lyrics of the song, followed by a retelling of the story upon which they are based and analysis of the tale.
Chapters are alternately written by Candia and Tony McKormack, the husband and wife team behind Inkubus Sukkubus (Candia being the singer and Tony guitarist as well as both of them songwriting). The authors also provide the illustrations throughout the book.
If you are thinking that a couple of gothic rock musicians are not going to be first choice as authors of a decent folklore book, then I advise you to think again. And then keep rethinking until you understand that they absolutely can write such a book! Both Candia and Tony are well respected for their knowledge of themes behind the lyrics of their songs and their treatment of folklore and tales examined in this book are respectful, erudite and just plain well-researched.
I will allow that you should not be looking for an in-depth treatment of these stories; this book should be seen to serve as an introduction to the stories, a way of leading you into further research of anything you find especially interesting (and a good bibliography is provided at the back of the book for this purpose) and a peek behind the curtain of some of the Inkubus Sukkubus songs. And if you haven't heard them before, all you need to do is listen to the 13-track CD bundled with this book! A wonderful little book, recommended on back cover by Professor Ronald Hutton and Dr Janine Ramirez, and on here by me.