Crossing The Trail is the next in the series of Vidna Obmana album reissues on Poland’s Zoharum. Originally released in 1998 on Projekt- it’s a seven-track album that shifts from the bright & texturally active tribal ambient. Onto the slightly darker/ more introspective side of the genre, before shifting to the brighter & glowing side of the ambient form- so very much of a journey like album.

The finished/ wholesale release comes in a six-panel digipak- though I can’t comment on this/its artwork, as we were just sent a card slip promo version of the album.  This features what looks like a monochrome close-up picture of some seedpods, and it nicely fits in with the look of the rest of this series of reissues.

Each of the seven tracks featured runs between seven & fourteen minutes- with each nicely creating it’s own story/ vibe, though the whole album works as whole- going from bright lushness, to more shadowy places, before reappearing in glowing/ warming wonder.

We open with “Encountering Terrain” which blends together a mid-paced ethnic percussion & flowing water tone, with a brightly weaving/ mellow flute-like melody. It certainly feels hopeful & lush, though with its growing textural depth( of shakes, slithers, scratches ) and percussion fade it does start to become slight more ominous. 

By track three “Forest Arrow” things have certainly become more shadowy & mysterious - as we find we slowly jiving ethnic percussion blended with swooping & sweeping mid-ranged drones, and subtly forbodding textural shifts ‘n’ ebbs. By track five  “The Esoteric Source” we’re  most certainly in darker/ brooding sonic water- as we get a blend of sliding & shadow-like drones, slowly gliding ambient sweep, and a hint of moody percussive shift.

The album plays out with the fittingly titled “This Splendid Place” which pares warm & slowly sweeping string-like ambience, with gentle textural trickle & rub. The main string element rather brought to mind a brighter/ more life-affirming Stars Of The Lid, with the textural detail really adding to the track's harmonic pull.

Crossing The Trail is masterful conceived ambient ride. Personally I’m less keen on the brighter/ lusher elements here, but that’s just a personally preference- though that said I do enjoy the golden & rising wonder of the final track.   An album for those very much looking to go on an ambient journey.