Most mature and serene album of this band

Review Score: (10/10)
This is already the sixth album of this most-known Dutch rockband (at least outside the Netherlands). After producing two magnificent albums (Mandylion & Nighttime birds), in which the six youngsters combined heaviness with beautiful, highly atmospherical and emotional music, and with the fantastic voice of singer Anneke,and after a double-album (How to measure a planet?), in which their need to experiment was driven a little bit too far, they now produced an album in which all their previous three albums is to hear. Were the strong hooks of Anneke's voice gone on their last album, they are now full in operation again. This album is maybe not their best album (frankly, after 15 listenings I don't know that yet), it is definitely their most mature and serene album to date. The first two songs remind me the most of the work of Mandylion/ Nighttime birds. But after those two songs the work of their last cd (HTMAP) is brilliantly combined with their earlier work, resulting in songs which are not only emotional, atmospherical and serene, but also experimental and "not down to earth". Here, heaviness is combined with a somewhat Dead Can Dance-like atmosphere. The instrumentarium used also reminds a little bit of that highly appreciated Australian cult-band, of which almost every Gathering-member is a great fan of (they've even covered a DCD-song- "In power we entrust the love advocated" of DCD's first album- on a CD-single, which came out after Nighttime birds). On this album, for example, viola, cello and trombone were used tot strenghten the atmosphere (no keyboard-sounds!). The music on this eleven songs are thus great to here on a big chair or bed, with your headphone on. This album is so fantastic to here, that it brings you to another world for some 55 minutes, leaving you behind with a fealing of serenity and peace with yourself. Try to listen to this album (for at least three times), and you'll like this album- for sure!

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