KILLANDRA

This Norwegian duo, accompanied by hired hands, notably on mellotron and wind instruments, has largely succeeded in integrating a smorgasbord of folk and prog influences, among them LOREENA MCKENNITT, CLANNAD, ENYA, BLACKMORE's NIGHT, and MIKE OLDFIELD. On balance the folk wins out, but the moody and atmospheric aspect to most of the material does speak to an adventurousness not always accentuated in folk music by the numbers.

While it's unclear if they heard Spanish Oldfield follower ENGEL's only album and the discography of landmark Welsh band MABSANT, at times they more closely approximate those less internationally renowned artists, for instance, in "Dawn" and "Rowan's Song" respectively. In fact, Janne Hansen's larynx is quite reminiscent of that of the late Siwsann George from Mabsant, a group that also occasionally "sax"centuated their arrangements. Her counterpart Per Selor trades in languid Oldfield like lead guitar solos, but perhaps not as often as enthusiasts of that style would prefer. In the vivacious opener "Flow" I think fondly back to the WATERBOYS unjustly overlooked "Room to Roam" from 1990.

The fundamental flaw is that I'm not hearing much of their own style in this enjoyable release, although the furrow they plough is unique enough for Norway I suppose. Nonetheless, this is an accomplished debut that should please fans of Celtic influenced folk.