SEA-SON OF THE WITCH
by Judy Grover
a Review of “Swallow the Moon” by Cyoakha Grace
This latest album by Cyoakha Grace is playful, thoughtful, mystical and of course, “witchy.” It is a collection of hymns to nature with Cyoakha’s signature live looping and haunting vocals that put the listener under her spell.
It opens with “Sea Witch,” a song that evokes her mermaid spirit and the crashing waves of the ocean near her Portugal home. The slow, undulating harmonium breaks into a rattling rhythm mid-song, going from a slow-rolling surf to playful, dancing waves.
The next track, a redux of “Church of the Holy Trees” (my personal favorite Cyoakha song) continues the lively pace . This makes me think of a circle of nature-worshippers dancing joyfully underneath huge evergreens with rhythm instruments in hand, and then falling to their knees in adoration.
“Mother’s Magic Circle” is more reflective, with enchanting toy piano lending a childlike feel, reminding me we are all children of the Earth.
The next track, “Woman in the Woods,” paints a playful, satirical picture of the Witch from the viewpoint of observers – “There’s a woman in the woods and she’s up to no good.” The bouncing mouth harp and sometimes-spoken, sometimes-sarcastic vocals make this a fun and lighthearted piece.
“Earth Air Fire and Water” is a hypnotic chant with a pounding rhythm and layered vocals, a 7-and-half minute meditation that entrances the listener.
“Spinning Around” wraps up the album with swirling loops and breathy, then soaring, vocals that invoke the sacredness of the sea, the woods, and the moon at once. At times middle-eastern sounding, at times other-wordly, it is what I imagine someone who swallowed the moon would sound like, with moonbeams shining from her eyes and mouth.
This is a beautiful, fun and enchanting album. You can find it on
