Customer Reviews

Mental Traveller

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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In the wide-open realm of gothic music, there are comparatively few bands who are willing to explore the fascinating rift between the ethereal and the industrial. Which is actually quite surprising, considering the bold and triumphant excursions made by Delerium (Semantic Spaces and forward), Lycia (Burning Circle), and even commercial ventures such as Enigma (MXMXC). These days, it's thankfully becoming more common, but when this album was made, it was an unusual and rare gesture.

Although not nearly as bleak as Teignmouth, and not as classically orchestrated as Oxeia, this is perhaps LICTD's finest work. The vocals are more delicate and yet more assured than on the previous offering, the synths are tighter, and overall the presentation is more creative and confident, with its few explorations into truly uncertain ground being intermittent and non-intrusive.

The music is a compelling mixture of the medieval (think Dead Can Dance), alluring (think Cocteau Twins), and even dance/industrial (perhaps a bit of And One). Looking back at this in retrospect, it's easy to see where such great new acts as Wench came up with their inspirations.

Not a classic, but truly excellent, dark, and mysterious. Check it out!

Like "Oxeia" and "Teignmouth", "Mental Traveler" gives exactly what LCTD fans expect. This is an album your lonely nights can't miss. If you like Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance and Love Spirals Downwards this is the right choice.

LICTD's second full-length album, Mental Traveller, is my favorite of their first three albums, though at their last two Wave-Gotik-Treffen shows (2003 and 2005), I believe the only Mental Traveller song performed was "Veronensis" - a sign of the enduring popularity of this particular song! "Veronensis" is easily my favorite LICTD song, and although the album version can not compare to Susan's live performances, the point of having it on this album instead of catching it on their collection album, Auter, is that it is preceded by "Eclogue the Third". These two songs are a wonderful fit together and when listening to them, I like to imagine that I've been whisked away to an empty cathedral.

The entire first half of the album is simply beautiful to listen to as it is presented. I'd describe this album as a must in any Heavenly Voices or ethereal collection.

As with Teignmouth, Mental Traveller becomes much more aggressive and upbeat towards the second half of the album, with male vocals becoming much more apparent in the songs. After "Veronensis", my favorite tracks include "A Chain" and "Dear" which are lead by Ralf D. (i.e. lead male vocals), "Down and Out" in which both Susan and Ralf both share the lead vocals (i.e. a male / female mix), and "Nostromo" which in Susan's vocals do not overpower the beauty of the rest of the music coming from Sven and Maik.

My least favorite track would be "The Cenobites", however, it isn't that I dislike the track, but rather I find it an odd interruption to the flow of the rest of the album. This track has a much more traditional "gothic rock" sound, and I'd actually not describe this track as being ethereal.

I love this band. ALL of their CD's are great. They are remeniscent of goth music that reminds of of church bells, dirges, light industrial.... this is one of my favorite goth CD's. I am disappointed the band has not made more music. I would love to have more of their stuff, and if they ever release anything else, I would be sure to buy it. The singers voice is simply beautiful, angelic, ethereal. It is a CD I never tire of listening to.