WYN

This 2002 release is the last we have heard from the Norwegian duo apart from a single appearing in 2005. Their website remains active so I suppose there is still hope for more of their ethereal blend of Scandinavian and British Isles folk with a twist of light prog. They haven't altered much, with even the backing band remaining largely intact. As on "Killandra", the overall pace is slow and deliberate a la later CLANNAD or earlier LOREENA MCKENNITT. As before, a couple of tracks are relatively energetic, the better of these being the sweet "Waves of Green".

For prog fans be forewarned that they have backed off on the already limited use of lead guitar in favor of violin, which doesn't stop the opener "Flowering" from being both menacing and mesmerizing. "Moonlight Voice" is another favorite, thanks to a simple ascending guitar figure that enhances the guitar, whistles and voice. Finally, the closer "The Valley's Song" is afforded the greatest opportunity to soar in its 7 minute of languid flutes, fiddly bits, and, after a few minutes, the addition of lead guitar and drums. Vocals do not appear until the final minute and a half and reprise the original melody, with Janne Hansen fulfilling a more supporting role, which, I must say, looks pretty good on SHINE DION.

Now, if they could cut back on a few of the type of tracks that become totally predictable after the first 10-20 seconds, like "MIst-Y-Ry", "The Well", "Ocean Rose" and "Mirror Lake", that would be a wyn-wyn, wouldn't it?