ARCANA INNER PALE SUN ALBUM COLD MEAT INDUSTRY RELEASE: DECEMBER 8, 2002 REVIEW: JANUARY 13, 2002

"Inner Pale Sun" is a very peaceful album, at times bordering on blandness in its soothing ambience. Having channeled his angst into his darker project Sophia, Peter Pettersson has but love and contemplation left for Arcana. In "Innocent Child", for instance, the Swede seems to ponder how to explain the ways of the world to his infant daughter, and his voice is pure fatherly gentleness. I have avoided comparisons to Dead Can Dancer Brendan Perry before, but on "Inner Pale Sun" they are simply unavoidable. Briefly, as on "Song of the Dead Sun", the album picks up speed and volume towards the kind of pompous crescendos Arcana is known for, only to fade into silent thoughtfulness again, moments later.
For any newcomers to Arcana, Pettersson's band pursues a pleasant ambient sound with classical, medieval and Gregorian chant-type influences. This time around it is just a little too pleasant to rouse much attention.

MATTIAS HUSS