"another fine work in the world of dark and haunting ambient music that brings new age into the gothic realms"
Continuing on in a series of re-releasing previously recorded works, we have here a sort of anthology, or "best of" album focusing on the space-ambient music of Psicodreamics. This album contains tracks previously released spanning albums from 1993 through 2006. With a total of 12 tracks, there is plenty of music for newcomers to get a good taste of the sort of ambient music that Psicodreamics creates.
We start off with the dark and dreamy piece "The Crypt of Despair" from Theatre Des Vampires. The moody atmospheres presented through the dreamy guitar and electronics are mesmerizing. Though all the selections have that definite new-age feeling, they all invoke a sort of dreamy, fantasy-world theme through pieces like "Labyrinth of Seduction" or "Malicious Children Delight". Drifting on the listener is taken to a dreamworld of "The Beyond" and the haunting piece "The Garden" which has become a favorite from this disc as well as the original album.
For me and probably for most readers and listeners on Gothic Paradise, the more emotionally charged, darker and moodier pieces are the favorites. The already mentioned "The Crypt of Despair" seems to set the tone and benchmark for the other selections to meet. A favorite on this disc also includes "On the Shore of Hell" with the excellent medieval-sounding vocals over the eerie, haunting background music. This selection brings to life the emotions and heightens the senses with the deep and mystical details that come out so well.
Once again we have another fine work in the world of dark and haunting ambient music that brings new age into the gothic realms. It's a great work and a great sampler or introduction to the many great works this artist has released and hopefully will continue to release in the future.
Rating: 4/5
by Jacob Bogedahl (Gothic Paraside)
