Harap-Alb by Articulat

This album is a personal exploration - an attempt to deconstruct and reimagine, through sound, a story that has been familiar to me since childhood. I first encountered Harap Alb as a crackling, timeworn radio play on vinyl, and its atmosphere has lingered with me ever since. This is my way of keeping that story alive, not by preserving it in amber but by passing it forward in a different form.

Perhaps, years from now, someone will discover this record the same way I found the original. And in doing so, they too will add their own craft and love to the tale.

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Based on the 1964 radio play adaptation by Vasile Mănuceanu
Original story: Povestea lui Harap Alb, written by Ion Creangă in 1877
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Summary:

The tale begins with a king who has three sons. When his brother, the Green Emperor, seeks a worthy heir to succeed him, the king sends his sons to fulfill the task. The youngest son, initially dismissed as inexperienced, proves his worth through his kindness and bravery.

Before setting out, the youngest son receives his father's guidance and a horse with magical powers to be his trusted companion. On his journey, he encounters Spânul, a cunning villain disguised as a beggar. He deceives the prince, steals his identity, and then forces him to swear loyalty as his servant. The prince loses his royal status and becomes known as Harap-Alb.

Under the Spân’s orders, Harap-Alb embarks on a series of dangerous tasks to win the hand of the Red Emperor’s daughter, a powerful and beautiful princess often referred to metaphorically as Pasărea Măiastră (Majestic Bird). Along the way, Harap-Alb befriends a group of magical companions with extraordinary abilities: Gerilă (Cold), Setilă (Thirsty), Flămânzilă (Hungry), Ochilă (Sharp-Eyed), and Păsări-Lăţi-Lungilă (Long-Armed). Together, they help Harap-Alb overcome great challenges, retrieve the princess, and fulfill the Red Emperor's impossible demands. Throughout his journey, Harap-Alb is guided at key moments by a mysterious old wise woman, whose timely interventions help him navigate obstacles and stay true to his path.

With the aid of the princess, who grows to love Harap-Alb for his bravery and goodness, the prince eventually confronts and outwits Spânul, reclaiming his identity and royal status. Harap-Alb marries the princess and ascends to the throne, proving himself as a wise and just ruler.

Articulat took shape in multicultural Rotterdam as a fusion of harbor roughness and homeland nostalgia. The approach to music is physical, ritualistic and often sprinkled with curiosities. Structure, rhythm and texture are tools used for creating audio experiences and dance floor narratives.