Robert de Fresnes
Mythology
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(Excerpt from track 'The Changing Woman')
A peal of thunder opens the album accompanied by atmospheric downbeat pads and chanting voices. Then a narrator in a distinctive thespian voice intones various lines about 'Runecasting', the opening track title, and is followed by a strong operatic female vocal. Add to this a trance-like synth sequencer motif, a powerful biting rhythm and doomy piano chords and there you have it. Laden with atmosphere, it works, and yet on paper looks distinctly unappealing. The quality of the narration is high and does not diminish too much on repeated listenings, as for the other ingredients I can forgive you if you do not get whipped up into a frenzy of anticipation, but it's quality music on offer here. 'Return of the Long Ships' is a gentler piece with melodic pads, piano and some excellent guitar work, the melodic female vocal is a touch twee, but contrasted with the powerful lead and acoustic guitar again it works. The first time I heard this CD I was reminded of Mike Oldfield's 'Songs of Distant Earth', and it would be fair to say that this is a well constructed progressive E.M/Rock album. The third track 'Aurora' reminded me of John Stanford's underrated 'Deep Space' album especially in the way it deploys resonant piano motifs and contemporary textures, although here less minimalist than Stanford as de Fresnes adds the female vocal and acoustic guitar to the mix.

The narrator returns briefly at the start of track 4 and is followed by some tasteful prog electric guitar a la Pink Floyd, which is both poignant and soaring. The formula is varied a little on 'A Candle That Never Dies' with a slightly more eccentric rhythm and piano arpeggios as well as the female vocals. 'The Willow' opens with acoustic guitar, melodic female intonations and gentle, symphonic accompaniment which provide a lush backdrop to the guitar improvisations as he vocals slowly work their way into your subconscious. 'The Eagle Dancers' is more minimalist instrumental, but again de Fresnes' innate melodicism is in evidence as the track picks up momentum and slowly builds up atmosphere as the electric guitar adds a further layer of atmosphere before the low key ending. 'The Changing Woman' deploys a curious booming beat and ethnic textures and voices and is good without being too memorable even though its a bit of a departure for the album.

Finally, 'Let Your Dreams Guide Your Soul' returns to the style of track one, retaining the ethnic textures and unusual rhythms, only here for some reason I find difficult to articulate, it is not as effective. The narration and vocals are less evocative and the motifs less memorable than before . This album may appeal to fans of recent Code Indigo work and those who like their music melodic and epic in scope. I must admit that if I hadn't heard the album myself a review like this would not have encouraged me to investigate further but it sounds a lot better than it reads! A recommended release. (SR)

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