Cover: M'ANAM-M'ANAM

Once again we start a new month with a new Monthly Marker, in what seems to be the coldest part of winter yet, at least here in the Netherlands, and of course in North America. Now, there are two things one can do in this time of year. Either bring warmth into your life by turning up the music and start dancing, which is what we did in January with Aérokorda’s Cliffs of Moher. Then there is the complete opposite option…

For February we would like to look to the cold, which is such an integral part of nature. With this month’s Marker we want to acknowledge, even celebrate the Bitter Wind, which is why we were so very excited when M’ANAM approached us and offered a premiere of a song from their upcoming album. It is based on a 9th century Irish poem with that very same name! The music in this song was written by Michael McGlynn, who we all know from ANÚNA, and it features an impressive solo by Philip Barkhudarov. Special thanks to Saar SeeDling (ANÚNA, SeeD Pagan Folk, Crashing Bats (FB)) for your intermediary role!

So let’s get outside, light a fire, and enjoy these impressive sounds together with friends and family!

“Bitter is the wind tonight,
It tosses the ocean’s white hair;
I do not fear the crossing of a calm sea,
By the fierce warriors from Lothlind.”

You can find M’ANAM her: