's first album following and 's emergence out of the captures them abandoning the best of that band's whimsical moodiness in favor of a symphonic spirituality epitomized from the outset by the soaring guitars that ecstatically slice through the opening Reminiscent, in places, of a less-precious successor to in that moods and esotericism do sometimes get the better of the band's more conventional music impulses, is nevertheless a remarkable album, all the more so since its makers could readily have given the likes of some serious competition in the mellifluous stakes. 's vocals themselves can sound extraordinarily -ish in places, with 's wielding of the flute and some distinctly edgy tempos only furthering that impression. Elsewhere, however, the same tools combine to induce emotions that range from to terror, an accomplishment that means highlights of the album are difficult to single out. Although the ten tracks are clearly delineated, the song titles are little more than passing impressions of the music's own sensations, rendering one of those rare albums that is best experienced as a seamless whole. ~ Dave Thompson