Agalloch - The White (2008)
©Vendlus Records
U.S.A.
Tracklist:
- The Isle of Summer (3:58)
- Birch Black (2:40)
- Hollow Stone (4:15)
- Pantheist (7:17)
- Birch White (3:44)
- Sowilo Rune (5:40)
- Summerisle Reprise (4:55)
What can I say? This E.P. is absolutely amazing from start to finish. It's a shame that you only get 32 minutes and 29 seconds of astounding instrumentation, but it just proves that quality goes a much longer way than quantity. There is absolutely nothing to complain about. The seven tracks are previous works from between 2004 to 2007 compiled into an outstanding assortment of Neofolk and Ambient pieces. What's unique about "The White" are the tracks 'The Isle Of Summer', 'Sowilo Rune', and 'Summerisle Reprise'. Each of which contain audio samples from the 1973 film "The Wicker Man". Surprisingly, this really adds to the atmosphere of the songs and gives them a story.
None of the tracks contain vocals except for "Birch White", which is an instrumental played along with a recited poem called "Birch Tree" by A.S.J. Tessimond. I think this is my favorite track in the compilation. The poem is short, simple and repeated throughout the track, but they somehow manage to make it sound complex and different each time it's recited. The instrumentation presents a mixture of gloom and beauty that is elegant and appealing. I never intended to give Agalloch a listen, because I thought they were just Black Metal (which is a subgenre that I do not like). But boy, was I wrong about them! I don't care if you don't even like Metal; this album is definitely worth listening to.
-Melanie
