It seems like only a short while ago I reviewed My Silent Wake's 'Eye of the Needle' album, and here they are already again with something brand new and quite impressive to boot. Those that haven't been paying a lot of attention to MSW lately might think they're still a UK Gothic Death Doom Metal band. They're still in the UK, but the Gothic Death Doom Metal aspect has been put on the back burner for the time being. While 'Eye of the Needle' was atmospheric psychedelic dark ambient, 'Invitation to Imperfection' is largely acoustic darkwave; that is to say, the acoustic elements are most prominent. Inevitably there will be comparisons to Arcana, Dead Can Dance, The Soil Bleeds Black, and other similar artists, but My Silent Wake is really now in a league of its own. According to leader Ian Arkley, very little of this album was recorded in a normal studio, much of it with a hand-held recorder, and most parts recorded directly after being written, which didn't allow for spit 'n polish, hence the title 'Invitation to Imperfection'. It was also recorded in various locations thus not giving it a uniform "feel". The idea was to "place more of an emphasis on atmosphere and feel than anything else." To that end they succeed, and it is quite remarkable for having an eclectic ambience all its own. The lineup for this album is a bit different too. Normally MSW consists of Ian Arkley, Simon Bibby, Addam Westlake, Gareth Arlett, and Mike Hitchen. This recording features Ian Arkley (noises, cello, shakers, percussion, mandolin, Risset drum, acoustic guitar, zither and zither with cello bow, chimes, natural manipulated sounds, household items, voice, keys, and field recordings); Andy Stamp (violin, plucked violin); Simon Bibby (keyboards, acoustic guitar, voice, pump organ, glockenspiel); Craig Evans (jouhikko and throat singing); Misty Blamire (djembe); Alana Bibby (voice); Mark Henry (percussion); Luke Kilpatrick (tin whistle, wooden flute, percussion, didgeridoo, karimba and occarina); Gareth Arlett (percussion); Marc Ellison (bass); Addam Westlake (double bass drone, singing bowls, Erhu). Once again, Attrition's Martin Bowes mastered the album, and added synthesizer touches here and there. Of course not everyone plays on every track, but surely you get the idea of what this might possibly sound like from the instrumentation.

Over the course of the fourteen tracks on this album the listener is treated to neoclassical darkwave ("Vorspiel"); psych dark ambient tribal ritual ("Helgar Kindir"); martial neoclassical with a Middle Eastern flavor ("Volta"); mystical folk ("Bleak Spring"); Renaissance revelry ("Tempest"); semi-industrial dark ambient ("The Fear"); somewhat traditional neofolk ala Death in June ("Lament of the Defeatist"); ghostly darkwave dark ambient ("Aventurine"); magickal neofolk ("Song of Acceptance"); cosmic ambient ("Nebula"); funerary mood dark ambient ("You Drift Away"); darkwave ambient drone ("Cwiclác"); wordless sailors' lament ("Return of the Lost at Sea"); and finally, a 20 minute walk in an enchanted Elven forest ("Melodien der Waldgeister"). In terms of aura and atmosphere, 'Invitation to Imperfection' is really something special. Arkley and crew have managed to create a unique listening experience that is without pretension or contrivance that transports you to other realms. Largely instrumental (only a few songs have vocals with lyrics, and those are generally subdued), this work though diverse in form, still maintains a consistent flavor throughout. A good deal of it recalls another age, centuries ago as it conjures ghosts of the past. 'Invitation to Imperfection' is one of those albums that will probably never find widespread appreciation but is most likely to spawn a devoted cult following. And as far as that goes, you can definitely count me in. Highly recommended!