THE DREAMSIDE SPIN MOON MAGIC ALBUM DANCING FERRET, SOUND POLLUTION RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 REVIEW: SEPTEMBER 21, 2005

Although I am unfamiliar with the Dutch band The Dreamside, I have gathered that their earlier releases were more reminiscent of acts like Dead Can Dance. Well, then I have to label this, their seventh proper release, "Dead Can Dance with goth metal guitars" and at the same time admit that I am quite impressed. Mostly by the vocalist Kemi, who sings in several languages and manages to lend an unearthly quality to tracks like "Gates of Dawn". Other than that I can recommend "Spin Moon Magic" to fans of darkwave and also of bands like The Gathering or Within Temptation, which Dreamside remind me of.

This is not a record that will shatter the way you look at music. It sounds like too much else out there for that to happen (but yes, I know The Dreamside started in 1994, before many of the like-minded bands). But it might - in parts at least, where it not deviates into sleazy goth rock riffing - take you to another place, where the angels of heavens come down to earth and sing for you in a rock bar, perhaps, or in some dark but strangely beautiful dream.

KALLE MALMSTEDT