Hearken to the Witches Rune

There’s a chill in the air for much of Hearken To The Witches Rune, the Arthurs’ third album, and by some measure their best. The duo’s research for this spooked collection of traditional songs led them to the doorsteps of Pagan religion Wicca, and they became regulars at Wiccan coven meetings for a time. It’s certainly an album steeped in rare magic, though that’s as much to do with Toni Arthur’s startling voice, which shines on performances like “The Fairy Child” – where she’s accompanied by penny whistle only, a perfect, otherworldly accompaniment to this tale of child abduction – and the album’s highlight, a truly unsettling, merciless duo rendering of “The Cruel Mother,” a traditional song of infanticide and haunting. It’s a shame it’s remained out of print for decades.