Jim Kirkwood Hecate Vol 1 CDR / 5 Tracks / 71.25 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Dark Ale Lane') Please go to the Store to buy this item.

Sometimes life isn't about gentle build-ups leading to some dramatic moment. Sometimes that dramatic moment just explodes on your world with little or no warning and that is what happens here. It is a technique Jim has used from time to time in the past but rarely to greater effect than on this opener 'Dark Ale Lane'. Triumphant rhythms mix with quite awesome euphoric organ flourishes but then in less than a minute this heady brew subsides to an eerie War of the Worlds style soundscape of incredible beauty. Warhorse rhythms come back and the first sequence (of the very highest order) takes centre stage weaving a wonderful melody of its own, eventually replacing the rhythms and standing in isolation. Even by Jim's standards this opening is a bit special. Amazingly though things get even better as more sequences and shimmering lead lines exude a magical melange of both beauty and pent up angst. A virtual guitar growl adds a touch of menace. The tone is set for the rest of the album. 'This Ae Night' just takes the baton from the previous track, simply exploding with raw power but also pent up emotion. The lead lines and sequences are the stuff of dreams juxtapositioned by nightmare reality. 'A Soul on the Bridge of Dread' serves up a similar brew that keeps the pulse racing. 'Shadows on the Horizon' begins with a slightly Eastern feel, subtle percussion creating quite a relaxed mood. All Hell then breaks loose in the second minute as more organ type sounds swell and spectres fly over the top. Calm returns with a gentle undulating drone and ethereal wordless vocal colouring. Simply gorgeous stuff. A wonderful melodic tinkling sequence emerges then all of a sudden- wallop, vast drums and scorching lead lines let rip. The mood momentarily relaxes as the lovely sequence returns. Our travels remain calm for the next few minutes then a very rapid menacing sequence slowly emerges, like an army gradually appearing over a hill, their numbers seeming to increase without end. We then go through a lovely gently percussive section soon to be joined by more triumphant strident leads before finally settling down to a brooding but still beautiful finish. Scraping shimmering metallic sounds give way to contrasting soothing pads as 'A Heartbeat of Mortality' slowly seeps into the consciousness. A steady deep pulse slowly rises to the surface, twangy melodic loop and ghostly lead line gently falling into formation. First one sequence emerges then a rapid second rapid one joins it. A third with even greater velocity, a ferocious rhythm and laser sharp lead explode from the speakers. The excitement is intense as if a battle is raging where no prisoners will be taken. What a way to finish an album- but then quite typical of the man. I have done so many reviews of Jim's work now and even though each album has an identity of its own and over time his artistry has matured, he still has a 'signature' like no other. Having said all that there is something to the sound palette here that reminds me more than most of his albums of early eighties TD (though there is so much more here as well) and as such, of all his recent albums this is probably the best place to start if you haven't tried his works before or your only experience of him was via a very early album such as 'Tower of Darkness'. I would implore you to give this album a try. There is no doubt in my mind that at the moment Jim is creating some of the most exciting music I have ever heard. (DL)

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