Deep Imagination: The Children Of The Moon

Ever evolving, but always in touch with what they have delivered before, German synth-prog outfit Deep Imagination return with The Children Of The Moon. The main flavour on this occasion as Thorsten Sudler-Mainz handles everything from vocals and keyboards to bass and electric guitar, via percussion, programming and acoustic guitar, is much more overtly gothic in style. That deep (natch!) element has always been strongly evident in this almost one-man band’s offering, but here there’s a much stronger sense that we are linking to an 80s aesthetic without actually wanting to head into the past. Almost spooky in places, melody still sits at the heart of what you’ll experience here, the opening trio of “Make The Moon Appear�, “Catching The Shadow� and especially “The Silence Of Winterland� (the latter being one of the most memorable moments on this album) almost threatening to break out into straight up, if deft and intricate, pop music. However, with a restrained pace, hugely atmospheric swirls and some quite superb arrangements, it’s a mere hint at what’s going on as everything from Pink Floyd, Black and maybe even Enya tugs at the senses.

Now I say that Deep imagination are almost a one man band, because while this is undoubtedly Thortsen’s ship to steer, he is rather magnificently backed along the way by Achim von Raesfeld on guitar and the simply stunning vocals from Ann Kareen Mainz, who adds a swathe of moody colour throughout. With Oda Hensel-Reiter also adding vocals to the crawling sprawl of “Find Your Own Way�, there’s no shortage of talent on display, and it’s something matched at every point by clever songwriting, with everything feeling precise and planned without ever coming across as sterile or stuffy. In fact, deep, dark and almost dank as they are, “The Magic Moon� and the aforementioned “The Silence Of Winterland� really do plant themselves in the mind and become unexpected sing alongs in their own enigmatic fashion.

Deep Imagination have been working away barely noticed on the edges of the synth, dark wave, prog worlds for quite some time now, but with The Children Of The Moon it feels like they’ve really found a truly confident, undeniable voice. For me this is their best album, but will happily agree that this outfit’s back catalogue has many riches to unearth.

Track Listing
1. Make The Moon Appear 

2. Catching The Shadow

3. The Silence Of Winterland

4. No Words To Say 

5. Find Your Own Way 

6. Beyond The Rising Sun 

7. The Magic Moon

Added: July 2nd 2023
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Deep Imagination online
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Language: english

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