Misty mountain landscapes, ancient forests, dolmens, rune stones, and primordial burial mounds: those are the images that come to mind while listening to Xenis Emputae Travelling Band. The latest album, A Prism for Annwn, also exudes this atmosphere.

Xenis Emputae Travelling Band, a one man project by Phil Legard, makes psychedelic ambient with a streak of folk. It's precisely these folk influences, which are represented by the use of flute, string instruments, pipes and pieces of song, that make the music so special. Xenis Emputae Travelling Band therefore gives off a warm feeling, and expresses an organic nature mysticism, rather than a cold, empty darkness, as is often the case with other (dark) ambient artists. Another special element is that all songs are linked to locations in the countryside. Phil often travels through Britain, composing the songs in various inspiring places.

A Prism for Annwn goes well with the older Xenis Emputae Travelling Band material, but also contains new elements. The addition of strings, for example, adds a warm touch to the existing instrumentarium. The songs are also more interrelated musically than on previous releases, such as Under a Soular Moon or Lords of the Green Grass. On the one hand, this adds coherence, but it also makes the album less varied, which is a pity. Besides that, I've no criticism, as A Prism for Annwn is a beautiful CD with calm, evocative songs. The closing track, "Epilogue: Lord Jesus, When I Think of Thee", is especially remarkable. Not only does this song have more variation in the melody, the multi-layered flute solo at the end of the CD is wonderfully dreamy.

D.M.K.