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dark age of reason - CMI.43

Audio Drudge, Issue. 7

Of the fifteen bands featured on the European version of the ...And Even Wolves Hid Their Teeth compilation, it was probably Arcana who managed to leave the most sizable impression. Following on the heels of that appearance were two equally as impressive tracks on the quickly sold out and nearly impossible to find Hearts of Shadow Gods double 7", that left me and many others, drooling in anticipation for the release of their CD. And so here it is, short enough at a mere 37 minutes that it feels more like an extended CDEP rather than a full lenghter, but with 10 songs total, it has just enough material to satisfy those with itchings to hear more from this talented Swedish male/female duo. Comparisons to Dead Can Dance will be made, and they are inevitable and justified, with Arcana's approach to intrumentation and compositions nearly identical to something like "De Profundis" off of Dead Can Dance's Spleen and Ideal. But in terms of nobility, elegance and ambrosial opulence, Arcana manage to take things a few steps further, with each song a genuine embodiment of sweet sorrow wrapped up in decadent electro-symphonic melodia; woefully baroque wood winds, gently plucked strings, flowing violin orchestrations, beautiful piano melodies, and of course, the heavenly blending of baritone and soprano vocals courtesy of Peter Petterson and the beautiful Ida Bengtsson (ooppha!). Yes, it's all been done before in some form or another, but who am I to chastise the band for doing it this damn good? Also availible on LP. CMI.

Jason Mantis.

Sauna, autumn 1996

The latest goldmine of Cold Meat Industry comes from Eskilstuna and bears the name Arcana.

The figures behind the band bear the names Peter Pettersson and Ida Bengtsson. "Dark Age of Reason" is a journey through a medieval soundscape with enormous moody pieces of a rarely seen kind. Strings and trumpets blend with Peter's and Ida's voices and in songs like "Source of light", "Angel of sorrow" and the opening "Our gods weep", the whole body shivers with pleasure. I dare almost say that this is one of the absolute best swedish albums that has ever been released, quite simply wonderful.

If there should be any complaints, it would be regarding the length of the CD, it's way too short because i want to hear more Arcana. A CD that has been and will be played many many times in my CD-player. BUY!

torNy GotTbeRG.

Codex
ET: This CD was a very nice surprise and in my opinion is what the first gothic music ever was. On listening to it I felt transported back into an age of Renaissance with vivid images of misty meadows in early morning with swirling faery circles. Listening to this CD made me feel homesick for a time I can't remember. The music is well-produced, original, and true to form, using real choir voices from a professional choir which Ida Bengtsson is in. Her vocal abilities are haunting and warm. Peter Pettersson who is the other half of Arcana is also a commendable male singer with unobtrusive yet moving vocals. The music itself has a real authentic feeling the tracks range in levels of emotion which revel in stories of the past.

S: Agreed; this album pretty well defines the reason that I would want to listen to gothic music. Refreshing free of the slightest trace of pretentious spookiness, this duo creates a wonderfully rich, atmospheric sound with what are apparently hand-made and -played instruments. The pieces have a timeless simplicity, but Bengtsson and Pettersson have genuine musical chops that keep the progressions and arrangements light and engaging. I'd recommend this album to anyone yearning for the days of Dead Can Dance's earlier, more gothic work, and even hazard that these guys are better suited to that style. My only complaint is that some of the tracks are painfully short, which, what with the incredibly high quality of the music, just seems criminal.

review by EvolTwin, Seofon

Heresey Magazine #2

Arcana is on of the most beautiful,dark and tragic acts around. One of the finest things to be released by CMI, or by anyone for that matter. A two piece act comprised by Peter Pettersson, and the angelic (fallen we trust) voice of Ida Bengtsson, the two create epic, dark symphonies that are both expansive, and incredibly rich with emotion, and tragic essence. Arcana have appeared on the CMI And Even the Wolves Hid Their Teeth... CD sampler, as well as the limited Hearts of Shadow Gods 7" EP's. With the influx of piano's, choirs, and fantastic production, Arcana create some incredible atmospheres, and inspire visions of beauty to those of us who see it in terms of darkness, tragedy and death. Discover it, and allow yourself to be mesmerised.

Jason M. Healy

Nordic Vision #7 Autumn 96
It is extremely seldom that we get music that is very untypical of other bands yet being very good and classy. Arcana is one of those bands we have to claim is very good and classy. After hearing the track on the "And even wolves hid their teeth..." cd from Cold Meat we thought this was something solid. We could of course be wrong so did our best to not have too high expectations when the promo CD happily arrived. But we have to say we got somewhat carried away. Before we can say anything else we must pull the fantastic and enormous "Angel of Sorrow" into the light. This is just such a classy song being both dark and full of light and colours at the same time, really capturing us with powers unlikely to appear in our dimension. Fantastic, really fantastic! But what is Arcana then? Black Metal? No, of course not. Arcana combines the beauty of sweet synth and instruments with the powers of dark and ghastly elements which most likely have to capture your soul and bring you with the music until you stop the disc. The combination of male and female vocals are magnificent and they combine their strength together making it reault in a very divine yet spooky touch, very much being massively successful. To us these Swedish artists are doing something brand new, something which we can enjoy a lot since you can incorporate the messages the music gives you in all possible directions. This is something everyone can listen to, it doesn't matter if you are you or old the music is great and we just love that aspect of it. Yet as the colours are hiding in the music there is a drifting cold and longing there. Something mysterious which we try to find every time we play the disc but it just will not make itself visual. There is a powerful symphonic strength "Dark Age of Reason" which is impressive and making it more majestic. Nordic Vision would like to thank Arcana for making good music, and then again being of a dying race!

Cold Meat Industry 1997