Fire + Ice
Gilded By The Sun

"Gilded by the Sun" represents the debut album of Fire + Ice, a musical entity born from the visionary mind of Ian Read, known in the neo-folk scene for collaborating with the likes of Sol Invictus and Current 93.

As expected, we are faced with a cornerstone of the genre, even though the label of apocalyptic folk is undoubtedly too restrictive for a free and unconventional artist like Read. If his career will be based on an evocative folk with strong references to pagan culture, Norse mythology, and very adherent to the styles of folk tradition, in "Gilded by the Sun," released in 1992, the dark sprite seems to want to give vent to all those artistic impulses that he hadn't been able to express in previous experiences. Maintaining a strong and well-defined identity and an unmistakable singing style, this debut work appears to be the most varied and rich in sound of his career, and in it, three distinct stylistic currents can be identified.

First, there are the timeless ballads that will be the main theme of the subsequent discography, with the most worthy representative undoubtedly being the beautiful opener "Long Lankin," a melancholic and visionary folk that marches to the poetic rhythm of a guitar tune that seems to come straight out of Douglas P.'s hands. Then there are dark ritual parentheses, such as "Ljosalfar," supported by a mighty organ, in which Read's filtered voice reigns titanically like never before, and the concluding "Long Lankin Threshing," a dark invocation where Read's visionary singing clashes with industrial phrasings and noise bursts as happened in the times of Sol Invictus.

Finally, there is space for pieces that we could define as more canonical, catchy pieces, but of undeniable beauty, that can be related to the broader dark-wave cauldron, but without dampening the epic and, at the same time, decadent atmosphere that hovers throughout the album: thus, the overwhelming "Fire Above," supported by a solid drum machine and a lively electric guitar, emulates the rock of The Cult, while the splendid "Blood on the Snow" boasts pompous keyboards and alluring female vocals that paint the work with a poignant romanticism that does not collide at all with the apocalyptic tones of the album.

If the quality of the individual tracks is excellent, however, there is a lack of stylistic and conceptual cohesion, which will instead characterize the subsequent efforts of our artist. Another point of criticism unfortunately goes to the production, rather rough and not without flaws. But what makes us wrinkle our noses is the vocal performance of Read himself, who, on one hand, gives us great emotions with his always heartfelt and passionate interpretation, but on the other hand, he is capable of irritating us repeatedly with some monstrous off-key notes that he could very well have spared us. And this will always remain a mystery to me: since the times of Sol Invictus and Current 93, Read sometimes manages to pass himself off as a virtuoso, capable of weaving beautiful vocal tapestries that other non-singers like Wakeford, Douglas P., and Tibet do not even dream of. Yet, the next moment, good Read makes such terrible slips that not even the worst amateur would be able to emulate. The music of Fire + Ice, in any case, is spontaneous music and without too many frills, music that springs directly from the heart, and for this reason, the inaccuracies certainly do not constitute a reason for rejection. In my opinion, there remains the regret and bitterness for the lost opportunity, for the missed masterpiece that we would have in our hands today if a bit more attention had been paid during the recordings. In this "Gilded by the Sun," indeed, we find splendid gems that will remain among the best things done by Fire + Ice, such as the already mentioned "Blood of the Snow," which will fully earn its place among the undisputed classics of the group.

If you love apocalyptic folk and are not a perfectionism enthusiast, this is an indispensable piece that you must add without hesitation to your dark collection.