D'ARCADIA

D´ARCADIAis a musical project more than a band in the sense of the word. It was founded round 1991 in Munich by the singer Andrea Schilz. She plays one leading instrument, the hammered dulcimer, and is also the songwriter and art director. In the lyrics, topics of the period of dark romantic an the Décadence-movement often reflect. Through this, the professional culture-scientist can be seen but not felt. D´ARCADIA is not an intellectual performance, it produces a dense atmosphere, yet far away from that gothic cliché of a graves-and-castles-escapism. On the contrary, phenomena like these are often lustfully demontated in the songs. In fact, D´ARCADIA does refer to old forms of music, but refuses entirely to transform them into kitsch. Traditional acoustic elements and electronic parts are put together in a transparent way, evoking a tenor of harmony - what let German Goth-magazines drop the terms archaic, mediaeval, mystic, dark, but also categorizing the band as with a real own style, far away from fashionable epigones. So, what is that stuff? It is, take it, Folk-Wave. Yes.The second half of D´ARCADIA is Christoph Straube, keyboarder and technical administrator. Around this nucleus, several changing musicians gather, giving the music a coloured note (if one can say so, talking about that genre). On the debut-album Nostrum (ConSequence Records 1995), for example, the fabulous Jazz-drummer Ludwig Danz can be heard. On the EP Théatre du Satan (ConSequence Records 2000) the guitarist Stefan Koglek, leader of the band Colourhaze and owner of the Psychedelic-Rocklabel Electrohasch shows up with a classical setting. Many more musicians made their manifestos on far over a dozen Goth-compilation tributes.This open concept of styles and approaches will also be seen on the new album Realitale, release in winter 2003, of course again on the label ConSequence Records. Its owner Thomas Gäbhardt - a multi-medial workaholic (a.o. Disastrous Din, Arcana Obscura) and an uncorrupted fighter for the idea of Independent - produced it, what led to a remarkable Industrial-influence. Also involved was the satanicmechanic-soundengineer Lennart, who is actually writing on a musical for Amnesty International. Of completely different roots is another important part: Sabine Stelzer has been working semi-professional in the mediaeval scene for over a decade now and stood countless times on stage alone or with well known bands in this field. With Dulcimer, flutes and perfect additional vocals she has enriched the acoustic setting of the album. It is completed by the young and ambitious student of music Sonja Ofen on violin and violoncello.The new release will be accompanied by live-shows. Depending on the location, the shows range from accousticly dominated sets up to electronic sound-cascades. The non-static staff of D´ARCADIA makes it possible! This is also why we love to play in unusual sites like the crypt of the Völkerschlacht-monument in Leipzig (Wave-Gothic-Meeting 2000), in castles (Burg Rabenstein/ Herbstnächte 2000) and palaces (Menagerie Ansbach, Schloss Nymphenburg München).Thanks for your interest, dear reader, and even more thanks for supporting us in the past, present and future. ET IN DARCADIA EGO.