PREMONITIONS

This is the most recent release (2007) from Nevada's D'ARCANA.This trio play a laid back, spacey brand of psychedelia with some heavier sections here and there.They've opened for both RUSH and ZZ TOP locally and apparently have had a fair amount of radio airplay down there as well. I love the cover art which was done by Ed Unitsky who's also done the same for PORCUPINE TREE, THE FLOWER KINGS and THE TANGENT among others.This is a double album by the way.

"Premonitions (Part 1)" kicks in quickly with vocals and I like the bass work too. Synths after 2 minutes. A calm before 5 minutes then the guitar starts to solo. Nice. Another calm after 6 1/2 minutes then it kicks back in. I like the guitar. It's mellow again to end it. "Chameleons" is more uptempo with vocals. It settles before 1 1/2 minutes as contrasts continue. "Code Of Silence" has some fairly heavy guitar with vocals. The next three songs are excellent. "We Are Not Alone" is a cool tune I especially like the drum and bass work. A relaxed guitar solo 2 minutes in.This is probably my favourite track. "Crime Of The Century" is great with the bass, guitar and vocals standing out. "Turquoise Blue" is psychedelic reminding me of FLOYD. Some flute too, I just wish the song was longer. "World Of Shadow" picks up a minute in as vocals join in. "Tremors" rocks pretty good at times. "Vapor" is laid back but it does pick up. "Through The Fire" is kind of catchy and I like the guitar solo late. "Wheel Of Life" is laid back and there is some piano.The focus is on the vocals. It's an okay song.

Disc two begins with "Gnome Matter Chapter 25" which is a short atmospheric tune. "Rain" has a beat with vocal melodies before the vocals take over.Tasteful guitar after 1 1/2 minutes. A mellow tune. "Desert Song" has some psychedelic guitar and spacey sounds as vocals join in. "Trisevenine" has these intricate sounds that come and go. "Smoke And Mirrors" puts the focus on the vocals and backing vocals. "Touch And Go" is laid back with guitar and vocals with a beat. Some violin too in this one. "Children Of The Universe" is atmospheric and almost mournful. "Premonitions (Part 2)" is the 31 1/2 minute closer.There are these mellow sections that come and go and we get strings before 4 1/2 minutes. Some passion 12 minutes in then it settles down with violin 15 1/2 minutes in. It builds some 18 minutes in. Nice bass 21 1/2 minutes in. It's heavier 25 minutes in then the piano takes over followed by tasteful guitar and violin before it turns spacey. Vocals are back before 28 minutes as it ends in a relaxed way.

If I could pick my favourite tracks and make one cd I could offer up 4 stars, but this double album has too many average momnets like most doubles do.This is better than their previous album though. Well done ! 3.5 stars.