I really enjoyed flautist Tim Wheater’s earlier collaborations with pianist Michael Hoppe (The Yearning and The Dreamer), but Incantation gives a much clearer view of Wheater’s virtuosity on flute as well as his mastery of composition. Cinematic in scope and symphonic in scale, this is a very emotionally rich and fulfilling CD. Many ethnic influences are drawn from, and musical samples were recorded on location in New Zealand, New Mexico, and Australia. The very unusual instrumentation includes flute, cello, Celtic harp, electric banjo, digeridoo, crystal bowls, etc. Several of the tracks include vocals in English, Gaelic, and Latin, but the voices are mostly used as additional instruments. Several of the tracks (“En Trance”, “Uluru”, “Benedictus”, and “Circle’s Edge”) are very heavy on the rhythm and percussion, giving them a tribal, somewhat ritualistic feel. “Pacificus” is much more ambient. “Seventh Ray”, “Dark Falls the Night”, “Love Is Here”, and “Whistler’s Lament” are tender and gentle to the core. There is an obvious variety of approaches on this CD, but a mood of darkly spiritual mystery (does that make sense?) is sustained throughout. Spiritual, but still melodic and accessible, and the various rhythms are infectious. I really enjoyed Incantation the many times I listened to it, and heard new subtleties each time. Hear, hear!