Tvinna – “Two – Wings of Ember” | Progressive Rock Central.com

Tvinna have produced their sophomore album, Two – Wings of Ember, and it was released February 23, 2024, on By Norse Music. This dark progressive group received much acclaim for their first album, One – In The Dark, which was released in February 2021, also through By Norse Music.

The band got its start in 2019, with Laura Fella, on lead vocals, synthesizers, and shaman drum. Laura Fella is also from the pagan folk band Faun. The other band members are: Rafael Fella, on guitars —acoustic, electric, and bass, who is also the guitar player for the Swiss folk metal band Eluveitie; and Alain Ackermann, on drums. For Two – Wings of Ember, Tvinna recruited Sascha van der Meer, from Solarcycles, to sing backing vocals.

Tvinna summed up the concept and mission of Two – Wings of Ember as: “Our answer to today’s world, that is longing for devotion, deepness, connectedness and ancient wisdom. Our music creates a world of raw insights into the soul, its vulnerability and strength – so we can face the inherent darkness, finding ourselves within it. This is how we unleash the core of the female soul in music, to strengthen and awaken what has been made to slumber”.

“Nénuphar”, opens the album, with dark, forbidding orchestration and sound. Laura Fella whispers the lyrics, “My Whole life is mine. But whoever says so, will deprive me. For it is infinite. The ripple of water, the shade of the sky are mine. It is still the same, my life. No desire opens me; I am full. I never close myself with refusal. In the rhythm of my daily soul. I do not desire – I am moved. By being moved, I exert my empire. Making the dreams of night real. Into my body at the bottom of the water. I attract the beyonds of mirrors”. Wow! By the way, the word Nénuphar, describes an Egyptian water lotus or lily. This song is over 2 minutes of cool, quiet anticipation of what’s next. Off to an amazing start! Ready for more.

“Dawn of Mine”, opens with more of those ominous orchestrations and sounds. Then, Laura Fella sings, “Out of waters I bind. Myself to death and life. I’m a shade of rue-hold sky. I am yours, and you are mine. No desire can hold. My heartbeat, nor my soul. Everlasting hope unfolds. Deepest gaze, burning glow”. Then Laura screams, “I hold the land, the sea, and the skies. Just like the bloom, we live to decline. There is no sin to forgive and revive. Facing the fear we used to deny!” (Probably for emphasis). She returns to normal volume, to sing, “Truth may be our strongest shield. I let my heart speak to heal. And put to earth my newborn feet. To make the dreams of night real”. Wonderful words delivered with what sounds like deep conviction. The electric guitars, that join in with drums and sounds of the seas, makes for a breathtaking soundscape.

“Louga”, which means “bath” in Swahili has one of the best beats and melodies on the album. It features Eluveitie and Illumishade lead vocalist, Fabienne Erni. It opens with horns and Fabienne panting. Then she sings, “Anawahsan, (Swahili for “He blesses them”), Anawahsan. Far thu nun – Mīna wela. Anawahsan, Duruskinan. Far thu nun – Louga”. Later she sings, “Grow your fire. Flow your tears. Embrace your sorrow. To understand”. It is a very fast moving track, which finishes way too quickly to enjoy completely.

“Irwahhên”, which means wake up in German, is the next track. After some cool opening drumming, Laura Fella sings, “Awake but. Still hidden from the surface. I know something is waiting. To step out of the dark. And stir the waters rising. The rising of my temper. As open as a flower. As fragile as a tear. Time has come to burn. To touch the secret silence. The never ever ending. Wheel is set to turn”. A wonderful song, full of spirit and some cool soft electric guitar support with drums and orchestration. Then, the electric guitar blazes and provides an effervescent light and sound!

“Arma”, opens with cool, calm breezy rhythms and soft drums with electric guitar. Then, the pace picks up, and the electric guitars fill with fire and the drum rhythm builds. Laura Fella sings, “Dark holds, dark glows. From within, dark sows. Sweet and slow dark flows. Dark grows, life unfolds. Light unleashed, light of spring. Skin to skin, light sinks in. Silver glowing from within. Life will grow, sun turns in. Heart, beat, let life unfold. Dawn rise where darkness sows. Hope grow, let fires glow. Hopе grow”. A much more inspiring song. Then, the electric guitars soar as Laura sings. One of the album’s better songs.

“Wings of Ember”, opens with cool, buzz electric keyboards or guitar. Laura sighs, then sings. “With closed eyes lone. One can dive deep. Vault into soft-silvern light. There’s a storm unfolding me. Will I dare to see? Grow your roots out of the shade. Let loose of what you hold. Fall on earth like rain. Pouring all thoughts. Do not fear, open all gates. Rife the naught, come to reign. Your wings of Ember!” The guitar work and keyboards are excellent.

“Somnia”, opens still and quiet, with keyboard orchestration, Laura sings, “The sky falls. Take her hand. Lose yourself in. A dream you can not tame. Spread your arms. Host the cold. Let her embrace us. Stroking our souls”. Beautiful and poetic. Laura continues, “Hold on. And fall, tied to Inner bonds. In my head, spin golden webs. They’re pure, they break, they fade”. A cool, moody song full of time to relax and ponder your thoughts. The instrumental section in the middle is full of great guitar, bass, and drums.

“Two Staves”, Laura sings, “(I shall walk the valley)”. Then, blazing hot electric guitars rip into the soundscape. Laura continues, “The call of fire that we inflamed, grew far and deep. In return, ashes will reign. Sent from skies above to silence all doubt. I shall walk the valley. To find peace within the echoes around me”. She has an almost shaman sound to her vocals and it is riveting.

On “Fortress”, many of the lyrics are not in English. They still sound great from the voice of Laura. The English verses include, her singing, “ I am your fortress, you are my core. I am the darkness you’re longing for. I am the moon gifting you dreams. I am the strength you carry within”. It is a great consensual bond between people to cover each other’s back. The electric guitar playing is some of the best on the album, by far. Really stretching the canvas of what went before.

“The Fall”, opens with some absolutely cool, cutting electric guitar and superb drumming. Then Laura sings, “And perhaps? In the ground. But it dresses you again in gold. Armour, from breast to knees. So pure. An angel wears it after you.
I see the torn grounds. Your heart found. Yet your strength will move all boulders.
I see the raging. Skies you’re facing. Yet your will lifts up to fly”. The electric guitar playing is exceptional. The drumming is also great.

“Der Weg”, opens with choirs and horned filled orchestration. Laura sings, “Wind blows. And moves no stone. On the path ahead, that is greeting us. Fate might come and go. But you own courage within your heart. Trees grow susurrant crowns. And the path ahead gets traced by us. Your true heart is a gown. On your way, waiting, you’ll find love. Fires within enlight. The path behind, grew part of us. We stay till the end of time. Earth remembers, returns, alive”. A fitting way to complete the album. Laura’s voice is the standout thing I will remember from this album.

Tvinna’s, Two – Wings of Ember, is a unique and wonderful experience. This music must be experienced in all its intensity and feeling. It is full of spirit and fundamental knowledge we can all gain from through the lyrics. The music is pulsating and rhythmic, and it is indeed enjoyable. A great enough find for me, that I will anticipate their follow-up album. Give this album a try, if you like the music of Faun, Solarcycles, Eluveitie, or Illumishade. The music videos that support the songs are out of this world authentic and epic. They do achieve their goal to: “Answer today’s world, that is longing for devotion, deepness, connectedness and ancient wisdom. Our music creates a world of raw insights into the soul, its vulnerability and strength – so we can face the inherent darkness, finding ourselves within it. This is how we unleash the core of the female soul in music, to strengthen and awaken what has been made to slumber”. Yes, indeed!