reviews

 I'm very honored to have the opinion of one of the most well known and talented fantasy illustrators in Spain. As an illustrator myself, and as musician, this lovely comments he sent to me have been like a gift. Thank you for the encouragmenet Luis, from my deep admiration! 

LUIS ROYO REVIEW OF ANCIENT SHADOWS

Original Text:

"Algunas veces, la voz de Priscilla vuela por mi estudio. Y cuando levanto la vista del tablero, me acompaña en viajes de vapores.
Su voz ondulada y misteriosa te hace llegar a esos rincones que no están en ningún lugar, te hace levantar los pies del suelo. Me gusta acompañarla a los lugares remotos que desprende con su música porque, aunque lejanos, le resultan familiares a mi universo.
Siempre un beso Priscilla, tu mundo es una bonita puerta al viento"
Luis Royo

Translation:

"Sometimes, Priscilla's voice flies over my drawing studio. When I lift my eyes from the board, it comes with me in vaporous journeys. Her modulated and misterious voice makes you reach those places that are nowhere, that sweep your feet off the floor. And I like to go with her to those faraway landscapes that she creates with her music, because even  though they may be  remote, they seem very familiar to my own universe.  Luis Royo (Illustrator)"

 
Illustration by Luis Royo

Visit Luis Royo artworks at his official site:http://www.luisroyo.com/

Review of Ancient Shadows and article about my music in the brand new magazine FANTASY EZINE a quarterly published magazine featured the latest trends in fantasy music and art. Subscription is only 10 dollars a year though you can see a preview in pdf in their site that includes precisely my feature in it.

Review of Ancient Shadows by HORROR MUSIC

1- Facing The Dream ( Opening Credits ) - This is a pretty dark intro at parts and gives us all a peek at your voice.

2- Away - I am definately digging the melody here. Alot of energy in this song. The hook sells this song. Very nice track.

3- Ancient Shadow - This track is a little slow to build up but it kicks in after awhile. To me this beat is just so so here cause I personally think just from the last track your capable of alot more. And because of that I felt you kinda kept it in second gear here. It's a decent track, I just hope the album title was not based on this track overall cause this album is ALOT more musicially then this one song.

4- But If You Go - I like what I hear already....Everything sounds really thick and I like the background here it makes it very "ethereal". The vocals and lyrics were good, nice song.

5- I Steal The Leaves - The opening vocal line is very cool. I like your dynamics here on this track. This all makes a nice mood or atmosphere. Nice outro here. Overall good track.

6- The Willow's Lullaby - Now THIS track is pulling me in. Loving the mood you have captured here. It's beautiful! My only gripe is the way you ended.........Now that I think of it a fade prolly would have not worked maybe tho something on delay. Would more capture the timeless energy of this song. Nice song

7- The Call Of The Nympth - I think I like the mood I feel here. I like that vocal swell close to the end that was cool. I'm feeling that beat notewise..... Very nice track. Overall this my favorite track on this album!

8- Nothing - Nice piano riff I am a sucker for a good piano melody. The backing vocals are nice and may have just saved this track lol. I can see someone playing this after they have a break up. That's about the mood the lyrics and beat give me. But overall I ain't really feeling this track. I don't think your strength lies in tracks like this just so you know.

9- Haunted - Priscilla recommended this song to me so I can't wait to hear it. Yeah this is definately darker Priscilla. Kinda more upbeat to stuff I have heard so far. Yeah I like the mood you have here. I guess this song is proof that this formula works for you if you chose to expieriment with it more. It it was ME I would take the concept you have of like the 2 sides of you "The Fairy" and "The Ghost" like shown in your album art and do like a double disc. One of songs like this and the other like your other stuff. Very nice track.

10- Nightmare - Another recomendation. Nice guitar on the first. I am really digging the tempo of this beat and your starting to get the 808 in there ,hell yeah! ..m/ hehehe This track is very unique for what I have heard so far. Very cool track and I GUESS I am starting to see the logic in some of your endings heheheh

11- Fairy Tale - This is very short but very sweet I was waiting to hear more lol. Nice intro

12- The Realms Of Twilight - This is a very smooth track as you kept it very solid and consistent. Vocally I thought you played it safe really. Nothing stellar about this song but also nothing really bad. This track just doesn't do anything for me personally. Just a decent track..........filler maybe?

13- The Voice Of The Night - That is a very pretty harp melody there. The backing vocals compliment alot here. These lyrics are very soothing especially at the end. Nice track.

14- Lament - This sounds like it's gonna be very thick. Nice piano interlude on the third half. Vocals did good I thought. The beat was pretty good for the mood you were going for here. Nice Track

15- Ahora Que Te Has Ido - I can't even say that title hehehe BUT I do have an ear for music so lets go! This is a really pretty intro. Nice piano work Priscilla. Dude this would have made a VERY deep track if yall would have rode this intro out into a full song.

16 - The Prince And The Fairy - Maybe there is a little carry over from the last track while not the same melody the effect is the same here. This is very beautiful music! I think Priscilla wanted to just jam out on the piano a sec on this. Its a very pretty track. Just like the track before it I can only imagine what this would have sounded like as a full on song.

17 - I'm Right Here - This sounds like the softer side of Hernandez right here. Very sad song. Very piano heavy. Its personally not my cup of tee but I recognize and appreciate great music when I hear it. Very nice track!

18 - Sueño Muerto - I am liking the mood of this track. The beat and vocals keep it all tight. The beat seems composed very well. Again I thought you played it safe but you stuck to what you know works for you. Not the best track I have heard on this but definatetly not the worst. Nice track.

19 - Facing The Dream ( Closing Credits ) - This is a very thick track. And its a great way to go out on this album. The ambience is very high and VERY dark after a minute or so. The darkside of Priscilla then sets off as this album draws to a close. For a second there I thought I was hearing some into by Cradle Of Filth LOL. It's not everyday I here an album which the majority is so positive and then end on such a dark and negative note. heheheh Thats GOT to stir folks up! But I can see someone out there appreciates concept songs about as much as me!

Final Thoughts - Overall I was very impressed by this CD. And I did a little reading about you from the website and in your album art/book, and I must say thats really really cool that you more less did this whole thing your self. I see you are no stranger to the independant artist hustle. I also read that at many times in your career you have chosen to not accept major label deals for various reasons and you decided to more less "go it alone" and produce your album yourself through you own label "Yidneth". From one producer/engineer to the artist I can tell you I think you have done very well. Some of the tracks sound almost like full on orchestrated tracks. My personal favorite track is " The call of the nympth". Something about that track does it for me. The beat, the vocals, the riffs....etc

Yall can get the album " Ancient Shadows " from Priscilla's website http://priscillahernandez.yidnethfanclub.com and I also think it's available on iTunes just search Priscilla Hernandez. So support a fellow independant artist and go check it out!!


http://www.myspace.com/horrormusick

To read the online review click here

Para leer esta review completa online haz click aquí

Esta bella artista española, ilustradora de arte fantástico, cantante, compositora y Bióloga Molecular de profesión (para que vean que belleza y neuronas van de la mano muy bien), nos presenta su material “Ancient Shadows” (distribuido por Yidneth, su propio sello), un disco muy amplio que abarca desde sonidos clásicos del etereal/new age hasta ritmos étnicos con un dejo goth que a veces se extraña en algunas canciones de este disco, pero que no hacen mella en un trabajo de gran calidad, dotado de un nivel de producción notable para una artista independiente del género.

Si bien el new age no es un género en extremo masivo dentro de las masas locales (me incluyo en el saco) , de por si tiene buena cabida dentro de los más avezados y adeptos al neofolk y a la literatura épica fantástica. En este caso, creo que es un disco muy recomendable para gente neófita en estas áreas, ya que la mezcla de estilos es algo muy palpable, mientras la experimentación y fusión logran que uno, más adepto a las guitarras y al gothrock clásico, pueda escuchar el disco completo sin saltarse un solo track. Esto, principalmente, por la cálida y melodiosa voz de Priscilla, que a ratos me suena a Enya en sus mejores años, pero que también cuenta con matices propios y una potencia poco habitual en las divas del rubro.

El concepto general de “Ancient Shadows” se complementa perfectamente con la gráfica y las ilustraciones realizadas por ella misma, aportando un entorno ad hoc para el momento íntimo entre su voz y tus oídos. Al mismo tiempo, lo involucrado de sus músicos de estudio, quienes de manera precisa agregan potencia y destreza en la ejecución, convierten este disco en algo que va más allá de un mero conjunto de temas, y lo acerca a lo que más bien pareciera la banda sonora de una tarde meditativa de lecturas mágicas o ensoñaciones medievales.

Destaca, lejos como el track más recomendable, “I Steal the Leaves“, que representa mayormente el espiritu del disco y la mezcla adecuada de cada uno de sus factores.

Para más información y sobre cómo adquirir el disco y ver su video en youtube, visita

First review of the year in AURAL INNOVATIONS ISSUE 38

Priscilla Hernandez - "Ancient Shadows" (Yidneth 2006, CD) From Aural Innovations #38 (January 2008)

Ancient Shadows is the debut CD from Barcelona, Spain based Priscilla Hernandez. The album has won a number of awards in New Age categories, though Priscilla notes that much of the interest in her music has been in Goth circles and media press references downtempo music. Listening to the CD it's evident why there would be that diversity of interest and descriptions. The music is an intriguing blend of New Age and Goth, with the kind of beats not typically heard in either of those genres. Imagine the Celtic tinged New Age of Enya and Clannad with a dark but uplifting Gothic atmosphere, add a touch of symphonic progressive rock, toss in some odd metered grooves, and you'll get something like the music on Ancient Shadows. The CD also comes with thick booklets containing detailed information about Priscilla, individual song commentary, lyrics, and beautiful fantasy artwork by Priscilla. I strongly encourage you to visit her web site and click the Art link to see numerous samples of her work (the Yidneth Project comic especially caught my interest). The themes are fantasy and fairy (she will appear at the Faericon in Philadelphia, October 2008), which will appeal to New Age and Prog fans alike. Don't let the New Age references scare you away. There's much more going on here than mere New Age meditational fluff. Lovers of accessible fantasy themed Progressive Rock will find much to enjoy on Ancient Shadows. For more information you can visit the Priscilla Hernandez web site at: http://www.yidneth.com. Hear Priscilla's music at her Myspace site at: http://www.myspace.com/priscillahernandez. See live performance videos on Youtube at: h.ttp://www.youtube.com/yidneth. Purchase Ancient Shadows at: http://priscillahernandez.yidnethfanclub.com

Reviewed by MICK MERCER well known journalist and author of gothic reviews, and creator of the magazine THE MICK

Read this article online on GRAVE CONCERNS WEBSITE and VOTE for it if you want to hep.

—- PRISCILLA HERNANDEZ / ANCIENT SHADOWS -—

C'era una volta.. una bellissima e nera fata che scriveva, componeva e cantava la sua musica in terre spagnole. Sempre in queste produceva autonomamente i lavori, allegandoli con suoi prezosi dipinti.. la solitaria ed eterea fata si chiama
Priscilla Hernandez, un nome che racchiude attorno a sè tutto un mondo legato al fantasy piu classico, seppure con ridondante oscurità. 'Ancient Shadows' (full lenght dopo il demo del 2003) viene presentato in edizione digipack deluxe, contenente ben due booklet ricchi d'illustrazioni e testi di varia natura personale per diciannove tracce ed un serial number da utilizzare sul sito web ufficiale. Troverete magia, oscure ninfe, romantiche storie di fantasmi, lamenti e spiragli di calda luce, il tutto avvolto nella suggestiva voce di Priscilla che nulla ha da invidiare a nessuna attuale dei giorni nostri, tantopiu che questa viene molto spesso paragonata a nomi del calibro di Enya, Kate Bush, Tori Amos. Potrebbe essere poi per molti, un ottima colonna sonora da film stile LOTR ma non è cosi: la voce ed il phatos sono troppo importanti per denigrare tutto a semplice sottofondo. L'album poi non stanca (agli amatori del genere s'intende), essendo i brani ben distribuiti e, di tanto in tanto, smossi da tracce come 'Nightmare' che lacerano il muschio del sottobosco aprendo inquietanti ed ansiose voragini inaspettate seppur, ad orecchio attento, gia percepite in precedenza. A questo proposito, avremmo fatto volentieri a meno della chitarra elettrica che in un paio di momenti spicca sulle note ben amalgamate, ma trattandosi d'una impercettibilità cosi fine.. la postilla scivola via prima di prenderne atto. Rifacendosi anche ai Cocteau Twins tra viole, flauti, soli di piano, chitarre acustiche, richiami celtici, folk ethereal gothic.. sono da menzionare 'Away', 'Ancient Shadow', 'I Steal the Leaves', 'The Willow's Lullaby' e la splendida 'The Call of the Nymph' una colonna portante, a nostro giudizio, dell'intero album.
-|-|-» E' troppo presto per raccontare la fine d'una storia che perpetua sopratutto in ambienti specializzati come riviste e festival proiettati nelle 'Fairylands'.. godetevi il suggestivo ed impalpabile libro dalle pagine profumate di magia. In un mondo denso di problematiche, cullarvi sull'incantevole voce di Priscilla, vi donerà sogni (anche agitati) ad occhi aperti.

(Language: italian, english and spanish translation coming soon)  -note_ volunteers welcome!!

To read the review online go to D-SIDE SITE

ESTILO MUSICAL:Gótico/Etérea
ADJETIVOS Bella, oscura, melancólica
VALORACIÓN (Muy) Buena música y sonido personal
SONIDO Profesional

Fragmentos: La musica vive (o flota) en "el tenue límite entre los sueños y la conciencia" y presenta esa dualidad entre el fantasma y el hada nunca sabes exactamente si estás escuchando a una banda gótica con influencias de nuevas músicas o a una banda de new age que es más oscura de lo usual, todo es dualidad en este disco, puede ser la fantasía que fascina a cualquier niño pero también la pesadilla que atormenta a cualquier adulto, ... nos deleita con una música que es bella, melancólica y tenebrosa en iguales proporciones. Priscilla pone la aproximación al género Heavenly Voices con una voz angelical y estupenda; la parte gótica nos trae la oscuridad y los arreglos y la diversidad estilística son responsables de un sonido personal que insufla aire, movimiento y frescura al cd. Barniza todo este conjunto con una belleza espectral, una atmósfera de ensueño (bueno, puedo decir sueño o pesadilla...), inocencia, misterio y melancolía y tendrás algo excelente y mágico.

Para leer la entrevista completa:
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Muzique.org is a well known webzine and promotor of alternative music based in Spain. They have published a rather long and detailed review about Ancient Shadows that you can read here, it has also a wealth of pictures (language: spanish)

Go to MUZIQUE.ORG