Every now and then a band comes along which, seemedly, can do no wrong. In Gowan Ring, so far, have been that band. Their first CD, "Love Charms," was an excercise in low-fi psychedelic tribal folk. Songs drifting into songs and acoustic jamming. This may have been informed by their World Serpent labelmates, but In Gowan Ring crafted something from the start that somehow set them apart. In Gowan Ring makes music of bubbling streams and bubbling cauldrons, of earth magic and the pull of the moon.

"The Twin Trees" was their follow-up. A more elaborate affair which combined medieval sounding numbers with songs that included (electric) bass-heavy, almost jazzy parts. A second testament to B'eirth and company's mastery of folksong and post-gothic experimentalism. "The Twin Trees" was more polished, and featured more of a band setting for the songs, but B'eirth's brilliant songwriting and fine taste in both instrumentation and

"The Glinting Spade," In Gowan Ring's latest offering turns back to the earthmagic of "Love Charms," without losing the medieval passion of "The Twin Trees." The best of both worlds in my opinion. The B'eirth brand of gentle psych-folk is here punctuated by the odd band of horns, creating dirgelike passages which call to mind the great march to the sea (and sacrifice) during the last act of "The Wicker Man." When B'eirth sent me this CD himself, some months ago, I was struck by its pure beauty. Strings in the earth and air, indeed.

Tim Renner, MournCloak@aol.com