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Dreamy Soundscapes

Sticking on 'I Dream Of Black' and proceeding to answer my emails, it seems quite a surprise when the calming collection of pretty sonic creations comes to an abrupt end. Looking at the clock however reveals that almost 40 minutes have past and the album has simply lost me in its dreamy world. It features a delicate mix of glossy vocal harmonies with a dreamy quality like, 'Is It Wrong To Lose Faith In The Person You Used To Love?' and 'Starry Nite #2', which also features a gentle sprinkling of piano and some shimmering sleigh bells.

There are some far out and slightly soporific numbers like title track, 'I Dream Of Black', which is an intriguing piece, sounding rather like the soundtrack to an exploratory mission into space with frissons of crackling percussion breaking through the glassy tones and shuddering string shivers. It feels as though every kind of instruments gets its turn in the limelight on this album with oboes and reed instruments playing a lovely low melody on, 'Starry Nite #3' before its transforms to a chilled, slightly psychdelic tune.

'The Runaground' has an offkilter, gritty charm with metallic guitars forcing their way through vocals with an electronic edge and tight beats, it has the same stormy, electro rampage feel as Muse at their peak. 'This Is Just A Little Interludeā€¦' smashes through the calm of 'I Dream Of Black' with its jaunty, jangly indie featuring tambourines and plenty of guitars. Most of the tunes are instrumentals, so where vocals do kick in on, 'Will The Moon Ever Rise Again?', they're a pleasant surprise and add to the ethereal concept.

'Wartime Love/Sonar Collapse' is a laidback, timeless classic with pretty piano keys twinkling away in its first half, while the later section is a creepy, space age collection of synth squeals and doomy chord sequences that feel like they come straight from a sci-fi movie.

'I Dream Of Black' is a mix of intriguing and delicate tunes with a surreal edge that draws the listener in. It's a charming listen for any occasion and the tunes grow in strength on every listen due to their unconventional structures.