“Elfin Anna Rugis began to sing. Her acoustic mouth music could only be described as mercurial, magical and many moons ancient. It’s as if it had slipped from the earth and taken to air to fly around the walls on wings.” – Ponsonby News.
Rugis has recorded and produced two previous albums of original songs RECONCILIATION (1997) - this album has musicality, poetry and spirituality to burn – Carol Wright. New Age Voice USA and CAVE SONGS (2003) A unique and sophisticated marriage of music and poetry. Anna Rugis is a brilliant composer as well as a fine lyricist and singer with an enchanting voice. Beautifully crafted, light hearted and at the same time, as deep as it gets. - Women in Music (USA).
She began her career as a backup singer for Cat Stevens, Cliff Richard, The Kinks and Van Morrison which clearly built her professional production and performance skills. Production values are well attended to in all her recordings making for a listening experience of subtle beauty and charm.
Her poems also have begun appearing in journals and there too she is gaining a reputation for originality and power.
Rugis’ new collection of songs entitled TRAFFIC IN GOLD may be described as contemporary port a’bial music. IE vocal music from the Hebridean Islands of Scotland. Intricate melodies, multi-tracked and with sophisticated harmonies, weave a tapestry across a drone or minimalist sonic pattern. The lyrics stand alone as poetry but when wed to such elegant melodies and sung with such delicate power they are truly mesmerizing.
TRAFFIC IN GOLD is unique – a fresh take on a traditional sound. This is music to listen to in the best sense of that word.
CAVE SONGS, originally released in 2003 is being reprinted, this time with a full lyric booklet. Ode Records is the distributer.
Cave Songs is a series of seven poems set over, and weaving through, seven different chants. The poetry follows and describes the development of individuality from before birth to after death. These poems have also been published in JAAM 22 magazine edited by Helen Rickerby. There are eight other songs included in this unusual and strangely beautiful collection all of which display a startling originality both lyrically and compositionally. The production is elegant and sonically impeccable. Layers of intricate vocal harmony play across a clean simple background, setting Rugis' enchanting vocals with grace and precision.
RECONCILATION: the company of saints and sages. (1996) is also now available through Ode Records.
"For unique, compelling music, Reconciliation recently settled near the top of my list. Anna Rugis possesses a pure fluid voice. A versatile singer, she also produced and played the instrumental background, primarily keyboards, on the album. Each of the 15 tracks was inspired by a saint or sage and each is unique. Rugis has composed quite different music for each of these remarkable songs and has done so in a thoroughly modern and accessable way. I urge you to play this album. It deserves to be heard for a very long time." - Steve Ryals (New Age Retailer USA)
And from Carol Wright of New Age Voice Magazine (USA) "Words can't convey the arresting sophistication of the lyrics and arrangements. This is a stunning vocal album."
Liz Barry of Radio NZ said..."this is a very beautiful and well-crafted album."
