Band:	Faith And The Muse
Album:	Annwyn, Beneath The Waves
Style:	darkwave, Gothic rock
Release date:	1996
A review by:	KwonVerge

01. Annwyn, Beneath The Waves
02. The Silver Circle
03. Cantus
04. The Dream Of Macsen
05. Fade And Remain
06. Arianrhod
07. Bradwen Slayne
08. Hob Y Derri Dando
09. Cernunnos
10. The Hand Of Man
11. The Sea Angler
12. The Birds Of Rhiannon
13. Rise And Forget
14. Apparition

When William Faith, known for his work with Rozz Williams' Christian Death in the 90s and a heavier death rock band of Rozz Williams, Shadow Project, met Monica Richards, known for taking part in the post-punk band Strange Boutique and other 80s punk rock bands, they formed Faith and the Muse surpassing any boundaries in the world of music, Art, diving deeper and deeper in the mystic side of a world beyond imagination where mystery and beauty dance their ecstatic waltz. You really can't define the sound of Faith and the Muse because it is something quite personal straight from their hearts and souls ranging from death/gothic rock to neofolk experimentations and from Celtic chants to Romantic/Neo-Classical period soundscapes walking on the thin line of history and myth, culture and fantasy.

"Annwyn, Beneath the Waves" is their second extraordinary release, after their delightful debut album "Elyria", and Monica Richards and William Faith for one more time show how much inspired they are dancing with god Cernunnos in the ancient forests of wisdom and ecstasy. Both the wicca/pagan magic influenced lyrics and the ethereal at times whilst at others intense and emotionally fortified music contribute into creating a brilliant album in which William and Monica perform all the instruments and voices making "Annwyn, Beneath the Waves" another soulful testimony.

The album opens with the title-track, "Annwyn, Beneath the Waves", an impressive composition based on atmosphere-evoking guitar riffing accompanying along with the rhythmic drumming Monica's ethereal and emotional voice interpreting the esoteric lyrics in a unique way leading the listener to his inner sanctum of serenity. A composition with ritual guitar chords and riffing paving the way for Monica's stunning voice, "The Silver Circle", continues the album evoking a mystic feeling in the air and you feel like dancing on the witch's circle as the album flows with "Cantus'" ecstatic drumming and dark keyboard melodies echoing, flirting gently with Monica's voice. "The Dream of Macsen" follows, based on keyboard melodies, William Faith's eerie whispers and Monica's peaceful interpretation, leading to "Fade and Remain" and you slowly lose yourself in a dream as Monica's serene voice harmonizes beautifully with Faith's acoustic guitar; a really beautiful atmospheric composition filled with so many emotions that float with the fairies?

The album flows with "Arianrhod", based on ecstatic dionysiac percussion and Monica's voice in the background leading to a medieval-sounding piece, "Bradwen Slayne", and a traditional Welsh song, "Hob Y Derri Dando. "Cernunnos" follows and William Faith recites, a moment of silence and Faith's intense interpretation escalates the song and he seems to be living the lyrics. A Christian Death influenced death rock composition reminding their "Only Theatre of Pain"-Catastrophe Ballet" period, "The Hand of Man", follows with William Faith showing that not only his music ideas are utterly inspired but he also has a wonderful voice. "The Sea Angler" continues the album; the piano's beautiful sound and Monica's ethereal voice telling the story of a young maid that bewitched a young man and took with her to the sea harmonize wonderfully together leading to "The Birds of Rhiannon", a composition that travels you somewhere else with the beautiful keyboard ideas and Monica's emotional voice evoking a sad nostalgic atmosphere. Another composition referring to Christian Death/Shadow Project follows, "Rise and Forget", with Monica Richards on the vocals being accompanied by William's unerring guitar riffing letting the album end with "Apparition as a paranoiac repeated guitar riff leads to utter silence?

Their songs will travel you to another dimension, dreamy at times, nightmarish at others. "And the power of their song was two-fold: whether they chose, they could bring sleep to the living and they could awaken the dead".