Cadabra Records presents itself as a vinyl-only record label that “specializes in the Spoken Arts, scored with ambient, nightmarish sound” and catering “exclusively to the horror/ weird genre”. The label has already released a rich array of terrifying performances, and their most recent one is an especially fine example of the label’s zealous dedication to their vision.
The new release is a presentation of M. R. James’ Casting the Runes, a full-cast audio play produced by Bleak December, adapted from James‘ 1911 short story by Anthony D. P. Mann, and featuring acclaimed actor David Warner, known for his roles in The Omen, Titanic, Tron, Star Trek, and many more films. The album also features striking commissioned cover art by an artist well-known to our readers (and many other metal lovers), Adam Burke.
And today we present the premiere of an excerpt from the recording.
David Warner lends his voice to the character of alchemist/occultist Magnus Karswell, whose diabolical endeavors may be at the center of a mysterious death in this tale of witchcraft and demons. Of his participation in this audio play, Warner has commented:
“I was brought up only with radio, so it means so much to me to be able to imagine for myself what is being presented. And we can all imagine differently what is being presented to us via audio and radio, and that’s what the magic of it is – our own imaginations are able to take over. As an actor (and a voice actor, sometimes), I’m so glad to be able to contribute to peoples’ visual take on whatever it is we’re presenting. I just think it’s so invaluable, you know – the images and dreams in the mind.”
We’ll also share some of the comments about this production by Canadian filmmaker and actor Anthony D.P. Mann, who co-stars in Runes as the doomed journalist Edward Dunning:
“I can’t remember a time when David Warner wasn’t a part of my film-watching life, having put his stamp on so many roles in films that have meant a great deal to me. His definitive portrayal of Bob Cratchit in the 1983 version of A Christmas Carol is a master class in acting, and he remains at the top of his game. I am both overjoyed and humbled to have an opportunity to work with one of my favorites.”
Casting The Runes is the fourth Cadabra release from Mann’s production company. It follows Cadabra’s adaptation of Dracula, starring Candyman’s Tony Todd; Sherlock Holmes: The Hellhound, a reimagining of The Hound Of The Baskervilles featuring Sir Derek Jacobi; and the limited run of Charles Dickens’ The Signalman, with Sylvester McCoy of Doctor Who, Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, and more.
Casting The Runes has been released as of January 26th, with the first edition of 500 copies pressed on 150-gram colored vinyl and housed in a heavy-weight gatefold tip-on jacket, with liner notes by Anthony D. P. Mann and that wonderful cover art by Adam Burke.
To order, check the link below…. and enjoy the excerpt from the album below (preferably in a lightless room with your eyes closed), which sets the stage for the main action.
Order:
https://cadabra-records.myshopify.com/
Cadabra Records:
http://www.cadabrarecords.com
https://www.facebook.com/CadabraRecords/