“Mirabilis” is a Latin word with pre-Christian or pagan origins that was used in the Mediaeval period to describe a supernatural force on the fringes of this world. Eight beautiful women with equally beautiful voices and a fetish for stunning costumes (which they model in the exquisite full-color liner notes and which are now approaching the size and complexity of costumes created for SF’s “Beach Blanket Babylon”) continue to prove that 13th-15th century English music and poetry are totally hot and sexy. The Baebes, now down to 8 members, bring us another exotic collection of 18 songs largely from early English sources, with music and arrangements by Katherine Blake and other group members. Most songs are lightly accompanied by percussion, dulcimer, zither, saxophone, guitar, keyboards, strings and other instruments. Particularly wonderful are “Musa Venit Carmine,” “Lhiannan Shee,” “Umlahi” (with words and music by Blake), the haunting “Tam Lin,” a sweet and lively cover of “Scarborough Fayre,” the folk tune made famous by Simon & Garfunkel, the rhythmic “Come My Sweet,” “This World Fareth As A Fantasye,” and the ethereal “Away” which features Blake on lead vocal. “Mirabilis” is the 6th recording by the Baebes and you have to have noticed 3 things–each album is excellent, each seems better than the last, and the Baebes are having as much fun dressing up and creating this magical music as we are, seeing and listening to them!
Personnel:Maple Bee, Katherine Blake, Teresa Casella, Audrey Evans, Rachel Van Asch, Cylindra Sapphir, Marie Findley, Emily Ovenden
Tracklist:
01. Star Of The Sea (Blake/Galloway) 3.32
02. Trovimmi Amor (Blake/Petrarch) 4.38
03. Temptasyon (Ovenden) 3.19
04. San’c Fuy Belha Ni Prezada (Cadenet) 1.35
05. All For Love of One (Bee) 3.38
06. The Lament (Blake/Marsh /Burns)
07. Musa Venit Carmine (Blake) 3.26
08. Kilmeny (Blake/Hogg /Galloway) 3.59
09. Lhiannan Shee (Sapphire) 2.56
10. Umlahi (Traditional) 2.14
11. Cittern Segue (Traditional) 0.52
12. Return of the Birds (Blake) 3.45
13. Tam Lin (Blake) 4.24
14. Scarborough Fayre (Traditional) 3.23
15. Come My Sweet (Casella) 3.20
16. Mark Hur Var Skugga (Bellamn)
17. The World Fareth As A Fantasye (Blake) 4.07
18. Away (Evans) 2.20
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