INTO THE LABYRINTH

UMUR's going to kill me for this rating but I really feel this one is a mixed bag. By the way please read his review because he gives some interesting background info about it. Anyway the first thing I noticed about this album is that it was quite different from what they had done before. Sure there are some similarities with past releases but overall this one seems to offer up some straight forward World Music tracks mixed in with those spiritual ones that Lisa sings on. I would say this is more accessible for the most part as well. This is also the first one i've reviewed that's not thirty some minutes in length, in fact it's over 55 minutes.

"Yulunga (Spirit Dance)" opens with male vocals and when they stop we get some atmosphere. Lisa comes in after 2 minutes. Drums and other sounds follow. Good song. "The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove" is very ethnic sounding. Brenden comes in vocally before a minute. This sounds too catchy to be a DCD song. "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" sounds like an Irish Folk song with Lisa singing. Vocals only on this one. "The Carnival Is Over" opens with waves of sound as the keys join in.The tempo picks up before a minute as the sound changes. Male vocals as it settles again. Orchestral-like music joins in later. Not a fan. It blends into "Ariadne". We start to get a beat then Lisa comes in. Good song. "Saldek" is more ethnic sounding with Lisa and percussion.

"Towards The Within" features vocal melodies,percussion and other sounds. The sound of a loon comes in before 5 1/2 minutes and later. "Tell Me About The Forest (You Once Called Home)" is a straight forward track with Brenden singing. "The Spider's Stratagem" opens with drums and percussion as Lisa comes in. A catchy ethnic sounding track. "Emmeleia" has no music just dual vocals. "How Fortunate The Man With None" is a song I first heard being covered by another band (NOEKK). Very cool lyrics to this my favourite track.

3.5 stars.