Third release of the German neofolk band Dies Natalis, this MCD 'Abyss' was highly awaited to say the least. One remembers their first production, the outstanding 10" 'Raunen' which features the 'romantic neofolk hymn' 'We stand', released in 1999 on Eis & Licht, followed in 2000 by their first CD 'Vom gedanken und der Errinnerung' and a few apparitions on different compilations.
The line-up has changed a bit since the origins and as there is no available information on their (under construction) official site at this moment, one can say this MCD was awaited with much impatience and curiosity...

The first track of this mini-opus 'The Day' opens with a quiet, romantic, neoclassical introduction mixed with the delicate sounds of breaking waves before leaving place to a classical neofolk composition based on acoustic guitar, soft percussions, songs and spoken words in English and nonetheless important: a melody and a chorus ('All the days will end and begin again') that immediately enter and remain in your mind... All the ingredients to listen some good neofolk music are present.
Nevertheless, what characterises the best Dies Natalis is the sincerity, the passion they put into their way of expressing their feelings through their music. It even makes us forgive their awkwardness (an approximate English accent on the second track) because the passion they transmit through their songs takes precedence over an hypothetical perfection and makes this band one of the most accessible in this musical genre...
The third title, 'From Dusk To Dawn' can be qualified as a classical neofolk ballad with an acoustic guitar and stringed instruments, sung in English and dealing with themes dear to Dies Natalis such as Time, Love, Death...
The last title 'Lunan' is based on some spoken words in German nicely accompanied by acoustic guitars and mixed at the end with some quiet recordings one can heard near the sea...

This limited CD comes in a foldout cover with some very nice black and white photos inspired by the water/sea.

Finally, these four very convincing tracks just make me regret to be unable to listen to more new material and only increase my impatience to listen to the new album, 'Tristan', an information announced on the Eis & Licht website...