Legendary dungeon synth master Jim Kirkwood has three new reissues out on OUT OF SEASON and HOSIANNA MANTRA.
Phantom Lure is proud to present the vinyl and CD edition of these rare gems, made in a time long gone but not forgotten... Often coined as THE ETERNAL CHAMPION TRILOGY; "Tales From A Melnibone Tavern", "Master of Dragons", and "Souls That Dance On The Edge Of A Sword" have achieved legendary status in the underground over the years.
Drawing inspiration from the fantastical and philosophical musings of Michael Moorcock, Jim Kirkwood embarked on a profound exploration of Melnibonéan mythos with this trilogy of albums originally released in the early 1990s, aptly titled "The Eternal Champion Trilogy".
Tales from a Melnibone Tavern (oos234/DEI-004) sets the stage with atmospheric compositions that echo the decadent and tragic nature of Elric’s homeland, weaving an intricate tapestry of sorrow and grandeur.
Souls that Dance on the Edge of a Sword (oos235/DEI-005) delves deeper into Moorcock’s existential themes, its haunting melodies evoking the chaos and carnage wrought by Stormbringer, the cursed Black Sword. Finally, Kirkwood’s
Master of Dragons (oos236/DEI-006), widely regarded as his magnum opus, brings the trilogy to a climactic resolution with sweeping, cinematic compositions that capture both the metaphysical gravity and epic scope of Moorcock’s multiverse.
Through this trilogy, Kirkwood masterfully balances the tension between chaos and order, underscoring his belief in the eternal nature of the soul—a poignant counterpoint to the nihilistic undertones of Moorcock’s work.
Kirkwood says "Moorcock put forward the idea that the soul was nothing more than energy that could be taken and used for other purposes. The Black sword which steals Elrics soul is an evil entity of chaos who becomes, in Moorcock's Multiverse, the Satan of our own world. It is rather nihilistic and possibly Buddhist in origin. We see the same idea in Star Trek. This is of course only a theory which the authors are entitled to. But it is one I profoundly disagree with. I believe the soul is eternal."
