Beautiful Darkness, Celebrating the Winter Solstice

Album Review

Released in 2000, Beautiful Darkness was one of the loveliest and most unusual holiday albums to come along in some time. It was a rare release, in that the people who made it — Jessica Radcliffe, Lisa Ekström, and Martin Simpson — seem to have made the album for artistic reasons, not commercial ones. The album also stood out because the participants offered an intelligent, deeply felt meditation on the Solstice — as opposed to the Christmas — celebration. One shouldn't approach Beautiful Darkness like a Bing Crosby record, filled with spirited songs and happy lyrics. Instead, the album is all of a musical piece, relying heavily on mood to portray the undercurrent of the long winter nights. The instrumental work is as spare as the leaf-less winter woods, with guitar, bells, cello, and accordion creating a deep, subtle atmosphere. Radcliffe handles most of the spoken-sung parts, and her fragile voice adds a touch of haunted ambience to the music. If one gains the impression that Beautiful Darkness' heavy mood is a contemplation on death, it's only a fitting subject for the Solstice season. For anyone prone to sitting before the fireplace in mediation during chilly evenings, Beautiful Darkness is a desirable companion. For those who are sick to death of the same old holiday offerings, Radcliffe, Ekström, and Simpson offer a refreshing change. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide