Jim Kirkwood
The Darkening Hour
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(Excerpt from track 'Never Stray from the Path')
CDR / 5 tracks / 63.47 mins

Deep dark rumbles mix with animal noises and possessed vocal utterings, some of them being made out whilst others are not. 'Something wicked this way comes' certainly can be and could very well have been the sub title to the opener 'Never Stray From the Path'. A deep bass rumble thuds forwards as a splashing sequence starts up accompanied by an insistent rhythm.

The production here is excellent, every layer forming an essential part of the whole. The lead melody is also spot on creating a feel somewhere between intrigue and fear. In the sixth minute another sequence is tossed into the cauldron and we really start to motor. Jim just gets better and better, this being an incredibly exciting track and an awesome way to get the album underway. 'Atropine Flight' starts with the sounds of a wind swept night and a slow lonesome lead crying out. Confused, half vocal twitters greet it as well as thunderous deep bass drum flourishes. In the fourth minute a brace of swirling sequences fall from the speakers as if a powerful force breaks over a hill sweeping all aside. This really is devastating stuff! Searing melodic motifs float above it all like beings riding and controlling the wave of energy beneath them. More pulsations come in as the storm picks up even further oomph suddenly breaking seven minutes later. We descend to more eerie twitterings and ominous pads.

'By the Pale Moonlight' is darkly atmospheric though quite relaxed at first even when a tinkling sequence starts up in the third minute. All is not plain sailing however as after some typical Kirkwood 'call to arms' melodic stabs appear a feeling of uneasiness returns. The pulse is steadied momentarily as a lovely soft melody is allowed to float in the ether but it isn't long before yet another devastating sequence lurches forward and the heart starts to race again. It's all so exciting, building up to yet another explosive climax by the end. 'Spellbound' also has a dramatic beginning but soon settles down to undulating pads. A sequence starts to build but then subsides, a lovely delicate melody taking its place seeming even more beautiful because of the mayhem which has preceded it. A gentle rhythm starts up and we continue in a rather dreamy but also heartfelt manner. There is nothing remotely mushy or twee about this but it really must be one of Jim's most tender tracks.

'Canewden Hill' commences with deep swirling pads so bass laden that they will make the floor shake. We don't have long to wait however for the first sequence to appear, the most powerful on what is already an incredibly explosive disc. If the floor was weakened by the bass rumbles it will now collapse into rubble as the rapid series of thunderous notes spews forth. All is change in the sixth minute however as the sequence departs to come back later, very much slowed down along with more superb beautiful melodies. I don't know how he managed to accomplish such a dramatic change in mood so smoothly but accomplish it he most certainly does. It's as if there is a sudden victorious end to a battle where optimism shines where before there was only despair. The pace quickens considerably as we enter the last couple of minutes and we come to a powerful triumphant conclusion. This is one of Jim's most exciting albums so far but also his most beautiful. (DL)

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