ARKANE – Arcane Elitism (CD 2002)

(Fossil Dungeon/Middle Pillar/Dark Vinyl)

Whow! This is an extremly beautiful CD release, like we know it from The Fossil Dungeon label. The artwork of ARKANE´s debut album is one of the most loveable, I´ve seen this year. Anyway, the musical work on this CD is really wonderful, too. The label describes it as „Neo-Classical Dark-Ambient, inspired by the ancient Hellenic past“ and who am I, to disagree? I would also say, that there are lots of Soundtrack influences. The music is monumental and powerful, but also spiritual in some moments and, even if I think, the band have been confronted with these comparisons a hundred times before, I think, that all fans of In The Nursery and early Dead Can Dance („Spleen And Ideal“, „Within The Realm Of A Dying Sun“ (A-Side) period) will love „Arcane Elitism“ a lot, as I do. Nothing else to add, than only to say, that this is the greatest Neo-Classic record, I´ve heard for a very long time. (A.P.)