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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.

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Australian singer-songwriter Louisa John Krol (from the french fairy label Prikosnovenie) , well known because of her haunting vocals and for being one of the best representatives of "fairy music" in the world has gifted me with this review (thank you Louisa).

Review of debut album “Ancient Shadows” by Priscilla Hernandez

Emerging like Venus from the Canary Islands of Spain is a bewitching siren, Priscilla Hernandez, who draws, paints and writes as well as she sings. Her debut album, “Ancient Shadows”, boldly consists of two parts – “The Ghost” and “The Fairy” - corresponding with dark and light aspects of the supernatural, each side accompanied by its own sumptuous booklet of lyrics and illustrations. Crossing ethereal gothic with new-age, from the first ghostly sighs Priscilla’s silken voice and deft brushstrokes sashay gracefully between ghostly willows, wailing waifs and spectral spellbinding. Priscilla is also a performer, blessed with resemblance to the enchantress portrayed in #16 “The Prince and the Fairy”: he saw a maiden golden as the summer, it was not a trick of the light filtering through the dome of the wood. Too late he realized he was under a spell… I’m guessing that thousands of princes will be trampling through that forest pretty soon, if not already! But make no mistake, this is no ephemeral flotsam; she’s an ardent, determined woman who turned down many label offers to remain true to her vision, which is consistent, confidently defined and compelling. Instruments include flute, cello, guitar (electric & acoustic), keyboard and percussion, played by a talented troupe of musicians.

The following comparisons by the reviewer and are not comprehensive; listeners will naturally form their own connections within this ever expanding genre:

Musical References:

Keltia, Persephone, This Ascension, Mirabilis, The Telling, Ophelia’s Dream, Angels of Venice, Pink Ruby, Tori Amos (in the pop aspects of her vocal style), Artesia, Elane, Fleur, Faun, Seventh Harmonic, Alquimia, Louisa John-Krol, The Moors.

Visual References:

Edmund Dulac; Arthur Rackham; John Bauer; and contemporary fantasy illustrators

Sandrine Gestin: www.faiseurs.com; Sabine Adelaide: www.sabine-adelaide.com

Brian Froud: www.worldoffroud.com; Amy Brown: www.amybrownart.com/

Contact Priscilla Hernandez: www.yidneth.com

Email: management@yidneth.com

PO Box 18046, 08080 Barcelona, Spain

Review by Louisa John-Krol

http://www.louisajohnkrol.com/

http://louisajk.ekishnugal.com/

http://www.prikosnovenie.com/

Leer la reseña completa en la revista "Reflections of Darkness" (reflejos de oscuridad)

Read the online review in Reflections of Darkness

Rating / Nota

Music/Música: 10
Sound/Sonido: 9
Extra/Extras: 9
Total: 9.5

An awesone review of the album has been published in the spanish magazine ROCKTOTAL. Thanks very much for supporting my art and for the lovely words and 9/10 rating

Una maravillosa reseña del álbum se ha publicado en la revista ROCK TOTAL. Gracias por apoyar mi arte y por las adorables palabras y por darle un 9/10

You can read the full review:

Podéis leer la review completa en:

http://rocktotal.com/discos/disco.asp?id=2874

Read the review online in LUNAKAFE website

Exerpt: Priscilla Hernández' debut album is a treasure trove for adventurous music fans. She's singing and writing everything herself. The result is steeped in myth and legend and features stunning songs. The record comes in a beautifully designed package befitting the immaculate contents and is illustrated by Hernández herself. The title song has a haunting mood and a gorgeous vocal. "I Steal the Leaves" is a standout and evokes comparisons to Loreena McKennitt with its multi-layered sound. "The Willow's Lullaby" is darker and almost frightening, Hernández soft voice atop eerie whispers and atmospheric backing. The album's dual nature almost gothic works juxtaposed with New age sweetness works well. This is a masterpiece.

Copyright © 2007 Anna Maria Stjärnell