Genre: Mediterranean Neo-Folk

O Paradis is a unique Neo-Folk act that hails from Spain. Their most recent album "Serpiente de Luna, Serpiente de Sol" sees the band matured into Neo-Folk masters as they continue to give their own unique Mediterranean spin to the neo-folk genre. The main man behind O Paradis is Demian. His soul is laid bare in the music and his warm voice cascades over you in romantic waves throughout every song. Those who look for the more sensitive side of the neo-folk genre will bask in the emotive voice of Demian and the gentle folk inspired orchestrations that frame the album. O Paradis is noticeably not martial in the least. There is slight use of neoclassical elements and a smidgen of bombastic drumming but for the most part O Paradis avoids the crowded martial folk waters.

O Paradis also offers a ray of light to the neo-folk world and its fans. Demien's suave voice and the predominately-upbeat feel of the music opens the way for neo-folk music in general to be more encompassing. The compositions on "Serpiente de Luna, Serpiente de Sol" are very well conceived. The music evolves never becoming too folk imbedded or too one-dimensional. If you know Spanish then you will also get to enjoy what I assume must be stellar lyricism. Every verse and word is sung with conviction and the romantic Spanish easily melts the coldest heart. A few tracks meander off the path into somewhat shaded forays but the feeling of the music always remains inquisitive as opposed to being oppressive.

It is a rather unique experience to hear such quality neo-folk music come from outside the predominately-Eastern European collective. "Serpiente de Luna, Serpiente de Sol" proves that there is still a spirit of originality and untapped sources of fresh inspiration to be explored by neo-folk artists outside Eastern Germany.

Fans of neo-folk music that speak Spanish fluently should jump at this album. There is nothing like broadening your listening experience and O Paradisio is a competent artist featuring a particularly Mediterranean take on a very tight music genre. The music will be familiar enough yet will also open the windows and let some light in. Faeries new to neo-folk that have an existing interest in Spanish music will find this album an ideal introduction to the genre as well as to the artist O Paradisio. From his music, I gather he is a kindred spirit seeking a path similar to many of our own.