The “journey” is not just a geographical designation, as we have written many times.
One can travel from one place to another, but one can also travel to the depths of one’s own soul.
Yet there are places, which are portals and a metaphysical or imaginary passage to more invisible places, which only a spirit can perceive.
And you do not need a destination or even a search engine.
A few steps and a few notes are enough for a pointless, perhaps, but interesting wandering.
It is not bad, after all, from time to time to get lost in unknown paths, in which we do not know what we will meet.
Such a door was opened to inspiration by the contemplation in the void of the west coast of Scotland.
Specifically, on the Isle of Islay island of 620 km and 3200 inhabitants, the song “White Horizon” was created by the duet Hand of Kalliach by John and Sophie Fraser.
Source of inspiration…
The couple in music and in life wrote the melody and lyrics for the song in this difficult and hard place.
The place where the fine Ardbeg whiskey comes from, but also half of John’s family (vocals, guitars, and drums).
As Sophie tells us (vocals, bass), this place combines history and myths.
It also links the cultural identities of cots, Irish and Scandinavian peoples.
All these are also reflected in the atmospheric Celtic metal, which plays the duet.
The reflection of this wild place is found in almost every note of the EP “Shade Beyond“, but more strongly traced in the song “White Horizon“.
A single look at this wonderful landscape is enough to convince everyone.
Besides, it is not a few times that all we seek is to “spread ” our gaze somewhere in the void.
Perhaps, trying to unite either with the horizon or with what he can represent for everyone.
But the notes have much wider horizons than the look itself.
They can feel and convey feelings such as those of loss, grief, and even oblivion that may follow.
An artist, like a transmitter, can hear them, even gazing into the void.
And he does not need to experience them himself, nor feel them, but simply read them and turn them into notes and few verses.
That’s exactly what happened with the song “White Horizon“.
White Horizon …
All things work in two directions, but always in a spiral course. Either centrifugal or centrifugal.
And the symbol of the spiral is very important in all three cultures, in Celtic through its Scottish and Irish expression and in Scandinavian.
In the same way, the general may lead to the particular and the abstract to the definite.
As the band reveals, the song lyrically is quite abstract.
If, however, it should convey a message, it is the chaotic human nature, which at times leads us to rivalries and conflicts.
One wants to impose himself on the other, but also to clash within him, which leads him to anger and isolation at the same time.
Be constantly frustrated, as a result of which he frustrates almost all his activities.
The feelings of the two members during the creation of the song are reflected in every note of the song.
A vague lament turns into rage, just as extreme metal dictates.
The song is introverted and is essentially an existential elegy, where the deity is replaced by the same human self.
Melodic contrasts …
The musical contrasts within the song also reflect the musical preferences of the band members.
For example, Sophie adores Joni Mitchell, while John adores Fallujah, an American technical death metal band.
So, if they had to choose someone to perform the song it would be Fallujah along with Joni Mitchell.
Quite a paradoxical combination, but in fact, in metal music nothing is strange and everything can be the occasion for the creation of another new genre.
Perhaps the best way to accompany the song is to take a walk on the remote Isle of Islay in all its seasons, even through your computer.
Even better would be to take a look at Celtic mythology and find Cailleach.
The God of Winter, who lives at the bottom of a sea vortex on the shores of the island where the song “White Horizon” was written.