Sol Invictus

Sol Invictus
Background information
Origin	England
Genre(s)	Neofolk, progressive rock, post-industrial
Years active	1987–present
Label(s)	Tursa Records
Associated acts	Orchestra Noir The Triple Tree The Wardrobe
Website	www.tursa.com
Members
Tony Wakeford Renee Rosen Andrew King Caroline Jago Lesley Malone Guy Harries M

Sol Invictus is an English neofolk and neoclassical group fronted by Tony Wakeford. Beginning with electronic experimentation combined with folk-influenced guitar work, the sound of Sol Invictus has become considerably more neoclassical over the years and has had a large amount of influence on the development of neofolk music. Wakeford has been the sole constant member of the group since its inception, although numerous musicians have contributed and collaborated with Wakeford under the Sol Invictus moniker over the years. The most recent line up has seen a return to a more percussive folk sound and with the new addition of laptop-generated loops. Wakeford is married to his American violinist Renee Rosen.

Overview

Wakeford was an original member of the English political punk band Crisis from 1977 until the band's termination in 1980. Crisis played many concerts for Rock Against Racism and The Anti-Nazi League reflecting his then membership of the International Socialists and later The Socialist Workers Party. He then formed Death In June with fellow Crisis founder Douglas P. He was asked to leave Death In June because of musical differences and his membership, at the time, of the British National Front. Wakeford claims no connection or interest in such ideas for 20 or more years, and has described his membership as probably the worst decision of his life.^[1]

Wakeford then recorded one album as Above the Ruins, showcasing a post-punk and dark rock sound influenced by his previous work with Death In June. After taking a few years off, he returned to music and formed Sol Invictus in 1987, working with Ian Read and Karl Blake.

Wakeford formed his own label, Tursa, to release his material and the music of other artists. The World Serpent Distribution Company previously distributed this material worldwide. Tursa is now distributed in Europe by Dark Vinyl, and in North America by Strange Fortune. In July 2007 the label was re-launched as a partnership with Israeli producer and musician Reeve Malka. The labels roster includes Sol Invictus, Orchestra Noir, The Triple Tree, The Wardrobe, Zunroyz, Andrew King, and Tony's solo work.

Wakeford has described Sol Invictus as a "cabaret band from Hell for the fin-de-siècle" and has referred to his work as folk noir. Beginning with a rough, bleak, primitive sound, the band's music gradually evolved toward a lush, refined style, picking up classically-trained players such as Eric Roger, Matt Howden, and Sally Doherty. In the mid-1990s, Sol Invictus spun off a side project called l'Orchestre Noir to explore an even more classically influenced direction. In 2006 Wakeford changed the name to Orchestra Noir with a new line-up and musical direction.

Etymology

The name Sol Invictus derives from the pre-Christian Rome-based cult of the same name. Wakeford chose the name, which is Latin for 'the unconquered Sun', because "The sun has always been an important symbol and as the cult of Sol Invictus nearly defeated Christianity at one point it seemed a good name to use. I also love the sound of Latin."

Imagery

The band's imagery and lyrical content, in its early days, was influenced by traditionalism and antipathy towards the modern world and materialism. A superficial interest was the Italian philosopher Julius Evola who Wakeford admits to "shamelessly stealing from" for song titles even though he found his books "unreadable". A more serious influence was the poet Ezra Pound, "despite, not because of, his anti-Semitism". The band also had considerable interest in heathen and Mithraist themes, often reflecting an explicit antipathy to Christianity: the 1997 album The Blade incorporates an Odinic chant, Gealdor, into its varied laments. Wakeford tended to write from a melancholic position of doomed Romanticism, which lamented the loss of beauty, love, and culture. He saw the American influence on global culture as very damaging to Europe, something he expresses with black humour in the song "Death of the West", from the album of the same name. The later albums have seen a turn to a more personal writing style, as interest in what Wakeford calls "knee-jerk anti-Americanism and anti-Christianity" has been rejected.

Sol Invictus album artwork has often showcased the expressionist paintings of American artist, musician and friend Tor Lundvall.

Controversy

Due to Tony Wakeford's former membership in the British National Front and the appearance of a track from his previous band, Above The Ruins, appearing on the "No Surrender!" compilation released in 1985 by Rock-O-Rama Records, Sol Invictus have been accused of neofascism by detractors. Wakeford has responded to this criticism various times, stating that his involvement with the British National Front "was probably the worse decision of my life and one I very much regret" and that various members of his band (including his wife then of eight years at the time) "would be at best discriminated against or at worse dead if a far-right party took power" and further that "none of the artists I work with hold such views either, and I doubt they would want to work with me if they thought I did."^[1]

Discography

References

External links

• Tursa on Myspace
• Sol Invictus on Myspace
• Tursa Records
• Sol Invictus North American distributor

Reviews

• Review of The Devil's Steed
• Review of Angel
• Review of Sol Veritas Lux

Interviews

• Interview with Tony Wakeford, 2006