IGNIS FATUUS

After reading recently that WW soon will release their fifth studio album I was thinking it's finally time to deliver my outstanding review for their debut. Just beforehand I'd like to emphasise that "Ignis Fatuus" has to be considered as one of the most impressive first releases by a progressive rock band. Already the huge list of musicians involved which is not just a maculation is a strong hint that there's something really big to be expected by this work. Strongly rooted in Scandinavian folk and mostly revealing a dark and melancholic mood this band's music neither becomes pompous nor monosonic at any moment. This album is dominated by acoustic instruments (guitar,flute,violin,cello) and keyboards have been used rather as an accentuation of the atmosphere than as a focus. Although there are reminiscences of the glorious days of early seventies, mainly due to the often used Mellotron this music is far away from any conventional retro prog and exhibits absolutely a modern and self-contained style. Musicianship and vocal performances (both male and female, at times wordless) are consistently flawless and brilliant. All the compositions are highly diversified and ranging from folksy, medieval-type tunes (with authentic instruments like hurdy-gurdy,crumhorn or bagpipes) to modern symphonic type ones, predominantly on the more mellow end of Prog and only occasionally there are more dark-heavy sections. Though it's hard to tell any outstanding tracks since all of them are really excellent, I could mention as highlights: "The Withering Of The Boughts", "Lines On An Autumnal Evening", "Cryptomenysis" and "John Dee's Lament".

Usually I'm careful with giving away the full score for an album, but I think their first one is together with "Storm Season" absolutely worth it. All fellows who don't need their prog to be necessarily heavy and crunchy will probably agree to me. I'm already impatiently awaiting their upcoming fifth release.