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Ad Ombra - Rites of Genesis (Equinox Tremendum) - Ad Ombra are a new discovery for me, and are a musical entity whose music I have eagerly embraced. Their music is of the grandiose orchestral, dark, neo-classical style which I adore, and I suppose comparisons can be made to early Arcana, Chaostar, and Elend. There are parts of the album where I am literally reduced to shivers, and the singer, Alexandra Damian's voice is simply sublime. I foresee that I will frequently revisit this sombrely beautiful album.

Arcana - Raspail - This was an eagerly anticipated release for me, and I was not disappointed. I must confess that Le Serpent Rouge was my least favourite Arcana release, and so I was hoping that Raspail would contain some of the same atmospheres in their earlier work that had so enticed me, bringing me back under their spell. And they have succeeded in this and then some! In my mind, Raspail takes all the elements that I liked from Le Serpent Rouge, and blends it seamlessly with all those things that I loved about Dark Age of Reason and Cantara de Procella. This is truly a remarkable album, ranging from neo-classical melodies, to more ethnic ethereal song structures, reminiscent, I must say, of the more Brendan Perry focused Dead Can Dance. I am enchanted by Rapail.

Bacio di Tosca - Der Tod Und Das Madchen - It is very rare that I discover a band these days so unexpectedly. I don't remember exactly how I came across Bacio di Tosca's Myspace page, only that I was not looking for anything musical in my online wanderings. But I clicked on the link from somebody else's page, intrigued by the profile picture, and I was immediately entranced by soprano Doerthe Flemming's voice. It wasn't easy to track down the album, but I managed to order a copy from Germany and have been in musical heaven ever since. Musically, I would categorize Der Tod Und Das Madchen as operatic neo-classical darkwave. The stand out track for me is definitely the first, a cover of Type O Negative's Red Water. I have never heard the original, but every time I listen to the Bacio di Tosca version I am compelled to put it on repeat. I find it simply divine!!!! I highly recommend this band to all fans of operatic vocals. I am also quite looking forward to receiving the CD of Doerthe's previous band Charitona, which is making it's way to me from Germany as we speak. I quiver in anticipation of hearing more of Doerthe's angelic voice!

Leandra - Metamorphine - I decided to listen to this album on a whim, and it was one of the most pleasant surprises of 2008 for me so far. Imagine piano and keyboard based songs that are one part angsty singer-songwriter, one part darkwave, with a dash of triphop, and I think you'll have a fair idea of what Metamorphine is all about. Leandra's vocals are sometimes innocently, almost creepily childlike, at others throaty and sultry, but always full of heart felt emotions that seem to come straight from her soul. And her piano playing is truly something to marvel at, for there are certain complex passages of deft grace and skill that add a strange and wonderful depth to the music. I have seen her compared to Emilie Autumn, and I'm not sure if I agree with this comparison, although her music affects me in a way similar to Emilie's so perhaps there is some accuracy to this observation. I have also been made nostalgic for Switchblade Symphony upon listening to Leandra, so perhaps I can use them as a point of reference as well.

miLù - Longing Speaks With Many Tongues - miLù (Anke Hachfeld) has captivated me with her voice ever since I first heard her sing with her previous band Mila Mar several years ago. I have eagerly followed her career ever since. While the last miLù release No Future in Gold was slightly more pop-oriented, Longing Speaks With Many Tongues sees miLù embracing a more sombre and spiritual sound, more in keeping with her earlier work with Mila Mar. I must say I prefer this album over No Future in Gold, and am looking forward already to what the ever talented Anke will do in the future.

Mirabilis - Sub Rosa - The lovely duo of Dru Allen (formerly of This Ascension) and Summer Bowman (of the Machine in the Garden) return with their magical sophomore release under the moniker of Mirabilis. Sub Rosa is similar in style to their first album, Pleiades, an ethereal/medieval album focusing primarily on the beauty of the female voice although Sub Rosa offers more in the way of instrumentation, featuring electronics alongside flute and hammered dulcimer to create a truly breathtaking musical experience.

Qntal - Translucida - I am ashamed to say that upon my first couple of listens to Translucida, I was actually slightly disappointed. Now I realize the error of my ways! What was I thinking? Translucida is just beautiful electro-medieval music, with melodies that linger in my mind long after the music has finished. Syrah is still the vocal goddess that she always has been, and I still swoon every time I hear her voice soar. Qntal still haven't released an album that I don't like, and I can't imagine they ever will. Never stop making music, please!!!

Schattenkinder - Weisser Regen - I just got this album the other day, and have heard it several times already. It is quite beautiful, and I am afraid that Schattenkinder is one of the most overlooked bands out there in the ethereal scene today. Perhaps they have a bigger following over in Europe. I certainly hope so, because they really deserve it. I really enjoyed their last album, Vision of Nightfall, but they have truly outdone themselves on Weisser Regen, which features more mature songwriting, vocals and instrumentation. Every song is musical poetry from the delicate keyboards, the gentle guitars, the soothing angelic vocals to the enthralling strings. Anybody who loves the ethereal/heavenly voices genre would do well to track down what they can from Schattenkinder. Listen to the samples right here on Last.fm! And if anybody here actually reads this journal entry who is familiar with Schattenkinder, is it just me, or do they possess a definite musical resemblance to Impressions of Winter? (A band that I am very sorry seems to no longer exist, but I'll leave that for another journal entry...)


Trobar de Morte - Legends of Blood and Light - This is the album that had me reeling with frustration, as the release date wasn't really announced until the album was actually released! But they finally released it, and I finally got my copy this week, and it is just as dark and fairy like and enchanting as I expected. Musically, there is no great change from the music on Reverie, but I am not complaining. There is a certain fantastical atmosphere I have come to expect from Trobar de Morte, and they never fail to deliver it. Their music always whisks me away to those worlds which I can only escape to at certain times when the phase of the moon is just right, to dance with the creatures of Faery under the light of the eternal stars. And Lady Morte's voice is as divine as ever. Yes, this album is just sheer bliss to me, and was well worth the wait!


Violet Tears - Breeze of Solitude - I discovered Violet Tears through their 2006 release Cold Memories and Remains, and was very happy to recently read that they were releasing another album. Breeze of Solitude is so dark, moving, beautiful and downright decadent.To describe their music, I'll use their own words from their website, as I think the description is quite apt: "The group like to call its sound melancholic, romantic, decadent dark wave, an inevitable, icy fusion." I love the way they combine a more modern gothic sound with the 4AD dark ethereal sound of the eighties. I'd definitely recommend this band to fans of more traditional gothic rock as well as those who prefer a more ethereal sound.