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By Ellen Rawson
Led by Katharine Blake of Miranda Sex Garden fame, the Mediaeval Baebes are hardly the girl group flavor of the month. Although there are twelve "baebes" in total performing (instrumentals and vocals, including some dynamic harmonies and unisons), these women focus on Early Music with a twist rather than chartbusting drivel soon forgotten. Performing music that has withstood the test of time (indeed, most of it has been around for centuries in one form or another),
Undrentide, their third album, shows them becoming more adventurous and experimental – breaking away from "pure" Early Music and occasionally playing with rock-like beats and experimental rhythms.
Songs such as "E Volentieri," "Besse Bunting," and "Quan vey la Lauzeta" maintain a "pure," medieval feel and feature the women singing together in what can only be imagined as a performance in a medieval abbey, but "Isabella," the album’s second track, features a lush electronic opening, a rock beat that blends well with the song’s medieval feel, and more of a "goth" image than an "early" one by the track’s close.
While the background vocals, percussion, and recorder on "Averil" distinguish it as Early Music, the lead vocal has the distinct sound of a much later century. "Veni coronaberis" definitely rings of a more modern century with its experimental instrumentation at the song’s start that continues to provide a distinctive undertone throughout the entire piece. Translated as
"The Drinking Song" (what on earth are they singing in Latin, anyhow?), "Omnes Gentes Plaudite" continues the gentle fusion of old and new with electric beats and contemporary drums dominating the instrumentals.
Fans of the cult film *Wicker Man* will appreciate the a capella cover of "Summerisle (the Maypole Song)" from that film’s soundtrack. (For some reason, the Baebes seem a natural group to sing this song laden with ancient Pagan imagery.)
Undrentide is not for everyone. Top 40 pop enthusiasts may find it dull, and folks ranging from
heavy-duty rockers to hardcore folkies may not know what to do with it. The goth crowd may raise its eyebrows at first. Early Music devotees may find it too experimental and rocklike. Forget all that. Listeners with open eyes (and ears) may just discover a delight and a new musical find. These women rock no matter what century it is.