Mary Timony's second solo effort finds her exploring similar themeswith slightly different sonic partners. Last time it was John McEntireand Bob Weston adding elements here and there, but this time it'sgeniuses of the moment Alan Weatherhead and Mark Linkous ofSparklehorse fame. New textures aside, it's still primarily Timony andChristina Files, though, with the power behind this music, and that'sall it really needs. The themes are very much the same as last time,the lyrics just as affecting. Timony's songs are very occupied with thespirits of the earth, animals, and love and wanting. But they're likemusical fables, with vivid characters in different costumes, like theworks of Edgar Allan Poe set to music. It's all pageantry of sorts, andit's very well executed on "The Golden Dove", more so than in the past.'Dr. Cat' is playful in the beginning and haunting in it's dyingmoments, 'The Owl's Escape' makes the hairs on your neck stand on end,and 'Ant's Dance' is all power and drive, with fantastic sounds andnoises emanating from the speakers (the horns are just plain lovely!).Ultimately, the image of the dove is important as the love that lefther for California, but also as the center image of 'Magic Power': "heyho, how do you go?/how do you get through forty blows?/hey ho, how doyou love/how do you love a dead dove?' The last two tracks leftsomething to be desired, as they served to annoy with the trite imageryon 'Dryad and the Mule' accompanying whistling and handclaps, and thesometimes dischordant mess of 'Ash and Alice' ultimately serving littlepurpose. The 'hidden' track - listed in the liner notes, butapproximately 2 minutes 'Ash and Alice' fades - is a lovely rendition,apparently, of a poem by Henry Lawes and Dr. Henry Hughes. It's afitting end to this album's worth of emotional outpouring, as Timonyseems to ask for requital of her love. An effort like this is certainlyworthy of at least a little praise.
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