ONE TRAIL TO HEAVEN

IN THE LABYRINTH is the brainchild of Swedish songwriter and multi-intrumentalist Peter Lindahl. From the mid to late 1990s he has produced three albums under this moniker. Now a new compilation includes the most fascinating compositions, some previously unreleased material as well as alternate versions of songs from Peter's exclusive personal archive. So all in all the songs represent a timeframe from 1993 to 2004. You can expect atmospheric nordic folk blended with psychedelic respectively Middle Eastern elements coming from sitar, saz, tabla aso, mostly presented by Håkan Almkvist who collaborates on nearly every track.

Hence this is far away from a one-man show definitely, Lindahl is supported by a bunch of musicians as for the instrumental and vocal attendance. Multiple impressions are worked in coming from a wide range of common and exotic instruments like arch lute or quena for example. In order to point out some exceptional songs - Karakoram Waltz convinces, due to a fantastic combination of flute, mellotron and guitar this is such a lovely thing. And including celestial female vocals the wonderfully melancholic Deep Saffron gives me the shivers everytime I listen.

On the couple Night Of The Baskerville Killer and The Endless City the band comes out of the wood really when offering some psychedelic and spacey attitude. Featuring ethereal moments, sugar-sweet melodies and charming harmonies this is certainly designated for some relaxing. 'One Trail To Heaven' is another excellent release on Trail Records, in best tradition so to say. When you're awaiting some ambient ethno/folk music this will be the right track - 3.5 stars.

IN THE LABYRINTH is the creative vehicle of Swedish composer and multi-instrumentalist Peter Lindahl. Just when this venture was formed and named is a bit uncertain, but in 1994 the first full album production with music issued under this moniker was released as "The Garden of Mysteries". Since then two more albums followed, the most recent of these "Dryad" from 2002. "One Trail to Heaven" is a compilation pulled from all of these CDs, and was issued by the US label Trail Records in 2011.

Progressive folk music with psychedelic details is the name of the game as far as In the Labyrinth goes, beautiful and exotic music the territory explored, far away from the boundary challenging music of the great innovators, closer at hand to the likes of Gandalf and Vangelis. More refined and sophisticated than either of them, more progressive if you wish, but ultimately music whose charms will reside in sound and arrangements rather than structural development or instrumental virtuosity. If you enjoy artists like the aforementioned Gandalf alongside Eastern-tinged music and find the thought of the two combined within a progressive framework tantalizing, In the Labrinth is an artist that will provide you with many delightful experiences.

'One Trail To Heaven' - In The Labyrinth (8/10)

Although a so-called 'best of' compilation seems better suited for a band or artist that has already achieved some degree of commercial success, 'One Trail To Heaven' is a damned good argument for newcomers to check out any of In The Labyrinth's three albums. Led and arranged by Swedish composer Peter Lindahl, the music takes the listener on a winding journey across Europe and Asia, often fusing different cultures and styles of folk into a beautiful mix. As ambiently-inclined as Lindahl's work tends to be here, there is a wealth of diverse sound and beauty to soak up on 'One Trail To Heaven'.

In The Labyrinth is another one of those artists I have come across that seems painfully underexposed. Comparisons could be drawn with Australian innovators Dead Can Dance; this music envelops several cultures, from Northern European folk to Indian sitar- exploration and Far East ambiance. What makes the sound so convincing is in the execution. The instrumentation is authentic and admirably performed, and the production crisp and professional. Occasionally, Lindahl will opt for a more conventionally Western singer-songwriter approach (as is the case with the fantasy-glazed 'Muscarin Madness') but the majority of this compilation is geared towards showcasing his more ambitious orchestrations. Hammered dulcimers, 'Chinese flute', and a myriad of Arabic percussion are some of the instruments heard here.

For a compilation, 'One Trail To Heaven' enjoys a healthy sense of flow, often to the point where I could be fooled into thinking this is a regular studio album. On top of a handful of preferred picks from the three albums, there is also unreleased material, exclusive to this compilation. For me, 'Moorish Rhapsody' is the highlight of this ordeal; a Celtic-Arabic folk fusion with warm, Beatles-like vocals not dissimilar from Arjen 'Ayreon' Lucassen's voice. The melancholic 'Over The Wall' is another favourite of mine, whisking the listener away to Nepal and a spiritual quest to Kathmandu.

Peter Lindahl's work is vast and deserves a much greater audience than he has thus far been given. Although this is technically not a studio album, 'One Trail To Heaven' makes for a perfect introduction to the music of In The Labyrinth. Within the course of an hour, many cultures are explored, and each leaves a gorgeous impression. The diversity does make for a somewhat scattered listen, but as compilations go, this is gold.