By Bona Pjarren
‘Tuolla’ represents a concept album by Cécile Delpoïo and has a full story to back it up. Cécile is an artist who works with various media, words, art and music, all of which are included in this work. Tuolla is a magical land and home to the heroine of the story, Aodrëna, whom, although she lives in a beautiful place, believes the grass is greener on the other side.
‘Aodrëna’ is the first track on the album and brings in the main character. Haunting and ethereal it introduces a beautifully baroque style piece with Cecile’s enchanting vocals floated delicately above the simple melody. It is a magical piece that is well crafted and really has a fairytale feel to it.
‘Highest Dreams’ is the song that follows with its plucked acoustic guitar and enchanting arrangements it heralds Aodrëna’s unhappiness with her situation. A highly evocative piece of music, full of sadness and longing.
‘Au Sommet de la Tour’ introduces Aodrëna’s mother and the concept that Aodrëna is a prisoner in this land by her mother’s hand. Birdsong initiates this fairytale song with its delicate musical interplays. It really evokes a fantasy landscape.
‘Above The Sky’ describes Aodrëna’s flight from her tower as she embarks on her new life. While still fairytale like this song has a slightly heavier feel to it, a certain brooding mixed with a feeling of flying. ‘Erimailma’ is the land below and ruled over by Tsila Elmaila and represents a bit of a wake up call for Aodrëna. The music takes on a dirge quality with discordance punctuated by ethereal parts, a memory of what Aodrëna has left behind. The tunes are darker reflecting and mourning what was lost. It’s very moving and really takes the listener on an emotional journey through this desert of a land. In many ways it describes the corruption of the spirit with greed and lust.
‘U-Turn – Through The Forest’s Laments’ is about Aodrëna realising her mistake and deciding to return home. Painted with some lovely flowing piano and accompanied with plaintiff vocals this is a moving piece of music with a Gregorian chant feel.
‘The Castle’ heralds Aodrëna’s return to Tuolla and the healing process of returning home. Her happiness is short lived as she discovers her mother is dying. A lone trumpet heralds her return, the melody is added to and embroidered by various other instruments, ebbing and flowing it is both sad and uplifting. ‘The Castle’ is a master class in dramatic music. Wonderfully progressive with big nods towards classical music. It feels like the whole album has been building towards this moment. And then comes the sadder movement. It is a truly wonderful piece.
‘The Ungrateful Daughter’ revolves around Aodrëna’s mother calling her ungrateful and accuses her of not living up to her expectations. Aodrëna’s wings are cut from her and she is banished from Tuolla. It is a moving melancholic piece. Cecile has kept it very simple with just piano and vocal.
‘The Serpent’s Venom’ charts Aodrëna’s fall from grace and Tuolla. ‘The Serpent’s Venom’ has a strong heartbeat rhythm and the discordant harmonies return. It is ethereal as Aodrëna stuggles to come to terms with this reality. It is another highly evocative piece of music.
But being apart from Tuolla brings, eventually, a new found freedom in Erimailma, liberated from her mother’s desires for her, which is covered by ‘Stars’. ‘Stars’ starts with a delicate piano piece with keyboards string swells building slowly into a counter melody. It is both haunting and moving. Cecile has a great understanding of the use of light and shade in musical composition. Stars ebbs and flows in wonderfully intricate ways eventually reaching a triumphant end as Aodrëna reaches a new understanding of herself and her surroundings.
The final track is ‘Flying’ and is beautifully and delicately upbeat. It feels like the logical conclusion to this album. It is uplifting but subtle in its construction, at times fantastically ethereal. Ultimately the triumph is of Aodrëna making peace with herself.
In conclusion, ‘Tuolla’ is a modern day fairytale that encompasses the human condition. The story is designed to be read alongside listening to this exceptional album. I found the experience incredibly moving and the writing vivid and imaginative.
‘Tuolla’ is possibly one of the best albums that I have heard this year.
- ‘Tuolla’ is released on 26 October.
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