I can’t think of a better way to kickstart Autumn than with a live with mesmerising magickal music by ‘Of The Wand And The Moon’ , supported by Black Light Ascension and Lloyd James the lead vocalist of Naevus.
Of The Wand And The Moon, or else music inspired by the moonlight and whose magickal aspect is represented by the wand , as Kim Larsen, the band’s founder, has explained in the past. The band that was formed in Denmark, has so far already released 6 full length albums including one with Sol Invictus, Matt Howden (Sieben) and Unveiled.
Drawing inspiration from folk music of the 60s (i.e. Lee Hazlewood, Serge Gainsbourg, Johnny Cash) but also following the trail that neo folk and psych rock bands have drawn (i.e. Death In June, Sol Invictus, Der Blutharsch, NON, Current 93), Of The Wand And The Moon released their first album called ‘Nighttime Nightrhymes’ in 1999 by Euphonius Records.
Aleister Crowley (the song ‘ The Substance Of Simplicity‘ is an adaptation of excerpts from Crowley’s book ‘Magick In Theory And Practice’ ), Philip Sidney an english poet from the Elizabethan period ( the song ‘ She With Whom Compar’d The Alpes Are Vallies‘ is an adaptation of excerpts from the book ‘The Countess of Pembroke’ 
s Arcadia’ by Philip Sidney) and a strong interest in the magic use of runes, have also greatly influenced the early music of the band. This is also apparent from the artwork in all of the band’s albums.
Kim Larsen has participated in various bands which oscillate between the worlds of doom metal and acoustic/apocalyptic folk music, starting with Saturnus, a doom metal band, for which he wrote music and lyrics. Following his departure along with other members of Saturnus, he has formed The Loveless and was also a session guitarist in Blazing Eternity which have some black metal influences. Even though evidence of his fondness for acoustic folk music could be traced in the slower early songs of Saturnus in their first album ‘Paradise Belongs To You’, Kim Larsen has said that he has never been a fan of black metal and this is also evident in the music and lyrics of his side project, Solanaceae. In addition Black Wreath where Kim Larsen also participates, is a funeral/doom metal band which although originally was intended to be a studio band, since the release of their first and only (for the moment) album ‘A Pyre Of Lost Dreams’ their popularity has increased and the future might hold some surprises for us.In the past it was pointed out by Kim Larsen that the only shared aspect with Scandinavian black metal bands is his interest in the nordic past.
“I’ve read Vargsmal and found it interesting though I don’t agree with everything in it…” (excerpt from an interview )
Kim Larsen has also collaborated with Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio playing music and providing vocals in their album ‘Songs 4 Hate And Devotion’ and was a guest musician in Spiritual Front. Moreover, Andreas Ritter (Forseti) was a guest musician playing the accordion and offering backing vocals in the album ‘Sonnenheim’. As Solanaceae, Kim Larsen collaborated with King Dude in the release of a 7” called ‘Split‘ in 2010.
”Of The Wand And The Moon” music has two main characteristics: The first one is the ritual aspect which brings it closer to ritual dark ambient as a result of the dystopian, abstract and atmoshperic soundscapes created in some songs (e.g. ‘Algir Naudir Wunjo‘,’ In A Robe Of Fire‘, ‘Reciful II‘, ‘ Lucifer‘). The second aspect is the typical guitar riffs that are a characteristic of neo folk music (‘Lost In Emptiness‘, ‘Summer Solstice‘, ‘Nær Skóg Nær Fjöllum‘, ‘Megin Runar‘, Sunspot‘) . The link between these two seemingly contradicting elements is Kim Larsen’s vocals and his unique whispering performing style which is complemented by a rich sound where percussion, wind and string instruments (mainly cello and violin) created gentle melodies that can draw anyone deep inside his/her own inner world.
Songs like ‘The Raven Chant‘ and ‘Gal Anda‘ gave a glimpse of what would follow, but the albums ‘Sonnenheim’ and the last ‘The Lone Descent‘ defined the band’s character and the mesmerising performance gave meaning and additional dynamics to the emotional aspect of the lyrics. If there is a band that makes me sit down and think about some serious matters after listening to their music, then this is Of The Wand And The Moon, even though the notes of the album ‘Emptiness:Emptiness:Emptiness’ read as follows: ‘Produced, composed and performed under the influence of alcohol and misanthropy…‘.
Of The Wand And The Moon released a 7” entitled ‘Shall Love Fall From View?‘ in 2013 by Heiðrunar Myrkrunar (a label run by Kim Larsen) limited to 500 copies and this might be an indication that a full length album will follow soon. The band has never offered a dull or non emotional gig and I have personally attended several live concerts of the band in London, Athens and Leipzig. On September 28, 2014 Of The Wand And The Moon will appear at the venue Our Black Heart and it is certain that this will be a gig that will stay with us for the rest of this year!
Lloyd James is the lead vocalist of Naevus and has recently supported Of The Wand And The Moon in their live gig in Athens of Greece. After a great gig in London’s Slimelight where Naevus was a support band for Kirlian Camera and the participation in ‘SOS’ weekend festival, Lloyd James will electrify the atmosphere before Kim Larsen appears on stage. Naevus are using crowd funding platform for the release of their 8th album while their EP ‘Backsaddling‘ was released on September 1st by 4iB Records.
Andrew Trail a.k.a Black Light Ascension, is a one man band which has so far released one full length album entitled ‘Ashes’ in Hau Ruck! .The performing style of Andrew Trail coupled with the use of electronic samples, the beats on the drum machine and the bass guitar playing, define the character of this band placing it closer to post punk. Since 1989 and the release of the 12” ‘Butchershop with the band Ministry Of Love , Andrew Trail has been a member of various projects including electro/ebm band Inertia. Andrew King is included among his collaborators as in 1998 Andrew Trail participated in the album ‘The Bitter Harvest’. In 2004 he was behind the electronics and the sampler while he also offered backing vocals and wrote two of the three songs for Knifeladder in the split album with Naevus entitled ‘Document Three’.
Tickets for this live can be purchased by following this link: http://www.seetickets.com/event/of-the-wand-and-the-moon/our-black-heart/790360
Blaue Rosen