IN LIMINE

Finisterre's second album ''In Limine'' represents quite a departure from their first release. Whereas their debut was a broadly symphonic work, ''In Limine'' is a more eclectic collection of tracks that seem to go through the entire gamut of musical styles. A number of guest musicians appear adding winds and a string section to the band's already formidable armoury, although one area where this does share common ground with the first album is that vocals are once again few and far between.

Fast tracking to the end of the album we find its two big-hitters, which together define Finisterre's non-linear approach to their epic pieces. This is a whole new ball game mind you. The first of these two tracks, ''Algos'', begins with impressionistic piano before going off on a number of tangents that eventually lead to a repetitive electronics passage. This closely resembles Pink Floyd's ''On The Run'' as other reviewers have previously alluded to. It's a surprising twist but Finisterre's music is very much a contrast of disparate elements. They showed on their first album that they were masters of circumlocution but this album's ''Orrizionte Degli Eventi'' takes us to another level via its disorientating procession through numerous overlapping jazz, classical and rock sections.

The jazz/avant influences continue on the atmospheric ''Preludio'' and ''Ideenkleid Leibnitz Frei'', both of which feature saxophone to good effect. The former track also includes some typically fuzzed-out guitar and fans of King Crimson might well enjoy Stefano Marelli's electric guitar tone. Overall though, there's actually quite an acoustic feel to this album. Nylon guitar and flute are prominent on several tracks with ''Hispanica'' and ''Interludio'' in particular displaying a strong Mediterranean folk influence, the latter track even features panpipes.

The many-sided nature of ''In Limine'' possibly makes it a more interesting though less coherent album than its melodic predecessor, but what it lacks in coherence it more than makes up for in progressiveness.