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Ozymandias Qntal Noir Records CD#: 87132-05152   Enigmatic and entrancing, Ozymandias is an edgy, dark take on medieval music, taking seemingly long-dead harmonies and ancient poetry and resurrecting them. Incomparably performed by fine musicians who are willing to experiment with their craft, the mixture of choral music and chant with electronic embellishment is not necessarily a new technique, but the juxtaposition of sounds found on each track is unique enough that one is never bored with the results. The song "Ozymandias I" opens with shifting, raspy sounds, childlike voices, and the sound of birds in flight, emphasizing the transience of time as evoked by Shelley's famous poem by the same name. The darkly romantic sounds continue in "Vogelfluc," which is perfectly suited to the lyrics of despair and fleeting illusion. While not quite electronica, many tracks benefit from more subtle enhancements. The tracks taken from the medieval song collection Carmina Burana also stand up well to digital augmentation; the sinuous sounds of " Dulcis Amor" alternate with pounding rhythms that strengthen as the song progresses, grinding and beeping like some poorly tuned radio capable of picking up dim, yet discernible voices from the distant past. "Cupido" and "Fiamma" have a techno-dance sound with Celtic-inspired riffs reminiscent of the creepy yet hokey soundtracks of old vampire movies. There is plenty here to entertain a wide variety of audiences, from fans of Enigma, early works by the Cure, or fans of J-rock groups such as Malice Mize. This CD has a tendency to get your skin crawling, ears pounding, and feet stomping, and once it starts, there is plenty of reason to go forth and embrace the darkness. --Richard Mackenzine

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