6comm & Freya Aswynn — The Fruits Of Yggdrasil

This is a 1987 collaboration between post industrial/ electroincia/ experimental artist 6comm and self proclaimed ‘Norse Occultist’ Freya Aswynn, who’s also appeared on several Current 93 albums. The album consists of nine tracks of spoken/ dramatically acted out Norse gods based texts over 6comm's shifting post industrial, cinematic, often horn heavy and brooding soundscapes.

This is the first time the album has seen the light of day since it’s original release, here it's presented in a classy and tough 7 panel fold out digit-pak with full track text & pictures of the pair at the time. And surprisingly it doesn’t too sound dated considering it’s 21 years since it was made with Aswynn Germanic tone tinged English vocals been very effective and often highly theatrical in their presentation- her tone going from fiery and triumphant, to soothed yet still powerful. Underneath 6comm’s backing is varied and wonderful composed- we going from tense war or into hunt like atmospheric horn work, wolf samples, bounding drums and thunder. To dramatic rising banks of heady string work, to cinematic piano unfolds ribbed by synth textures, to even one track that steps into quite poppy dark soundscaping. But really the musically backing often simmers in the background and is here more as a mood and atmosphere enhancer for Aswynn vocals.

A well performed and executed dramatic spoken/ theatrical word album that only occasionally shows its age in some of the synth sounds and production decisions. But well worth your time if you have  any interest in Norse mythology or just enjoy dramatic spoken work performances.