The Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus
Maria Aua
A band that has been active on and off since 1987, The Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus (aka RAIJ) fuses various styles of folk with elements of classical chamber music, western medieval music, and liturgical choral music to create something sublime. There is a transcendental quality to their work, which draws from a range of Christian traditions and songs that are delivered in about half a dozen languages, depending on the heritage they are rooted in. The band also incorporates some electronic music and a fairly mellow version of rock, as well as some post-rock flavors into their pieces. Between their otherworldly vocals, melodies that cannot be pinned to a specific style or time period, and the way they blend classical and contemporary instruments, they can be said to be pretty much in the same mold as Dead Can Dance, except for being driven by a mystical sense of peace rather than ethereal angst.
