"Beautiful One" makes me swoon, in the sense of feeling ecstatic rather than faint. There's a languid almost-trip hop beat, while the song ebbs and flows like the ocean. There may not be the metal guitars that featured on classic Gathering albums, but this song matches the emotional intensity of those releases. It wouldn't be a stretch to imagine this song to be about Anneke's son, though maybe that's my interpretation because I'm a parent too and having children changes the way you think about such things. There's an edgy paranoia to "Witnesses" in which Anneke recoils at the horrors of the modern world. I prefer to think about the more mythical side of existence when I listen to her singing and this song's franticness sets my nerves on edge, just like drinking too much coffee. There are some effective, yet simple, guitar solos, which means that all is not lost. However this is not a favourite.

The dreamy pace of "Beautiful One" is returned to for "Yalin", which conjures images of lazy, sunny afternoons, while the absence of a friend is felt strongly. It has the effortless pop sensibilities of Julianne Regan's Mice project. The lyric: "Thirty four and I'm only beginning to understand what all this is all about..." strikes a chord, though despite being that age I'm as much in the dark as ever. There's a strong emphasis on piano on this album, seldom more so than during download-single "Day After Yesterday". This is another languorous stroll. Its simplicity is a blessing, rather than a curse. Anneke laments: 'I don't suppose I could feel this way if I still had you by my side.' The trumpet solo is unexpected but thankfully doesn't take the song too far in the direction of Jazz.

"My Girl" starts like R.E.M, mid-paced with a bit of jangly guitar. It soon adopts a more sleek sound with some interesting 'funky' drumming. Elsewhere, the guitars of "Take Care Of Me" echo enjoyably. The plea contained in the title is enough to make a hard man crumble. There are even some elegiac 'ahhs' in the background, before the song disappears in the mist. The addition of male vocals and strings give "Ice Water" a different feel. Some heavy guitar soloing threatens to give the song identity, but there's little that makes it stand out.

Metal guitars are the unexpected introduction to the tweely-titled "You Are Nice". This and the following song are the rock mountain that forms the centre of the album, surrounded by the soft foothills of jazz-inflected pop. "You Are Nice" comes across as a spikier version of Garbage, not bad, but not the towering majesty one might hope for. "Tale of Grief" is hardly an inspiring title either, but the song slinks seductively. The ghost-playing-arpeggios-in-the-next-room spooky piano effectively supports some interesting vocal gymnastics from Ms Van Giersbergen. Just before the two minute mark guitars come crashing in and I'm thrilled by the roller coaster ride. This is the most vintage-Gathering sounding song on this album: one for the long-time fans.

"Come Wander" is another highlight, featuring just Anneke's voice and an acoustic guitar. This gives it an other-worldly, lullaby feel. If you liked the atmosphere of All About Eve's "Martha's Harbour" then this will appeal. I've never really watched classic 60s sci-fi/horror series The Twilight Zone but I'm tempted now I learn that that is from where this song came. The opening of next song "Sunken Soldiers" sounds loud and abrasive, but then anything louder than a whisper would. It soon calms down and the ponderous mood returns. The trumpets all stage a comeback and I start to imagine Anneke as the singer with a 40s jazz band, particularly with the war-inspired lyrics. "Lost and Found" is a quiet song, centred – at least initially - on Anneke's voice, an echo-laden guitar and piano. There are instances of interesting percussion, which stop the song from becoming nondescript. A gently plucked guitar takes the lead for the final song "Asleep". Once again the parent in me interprets this as describing the experience of watching your child sleep and marveling at their existence in the world.

If you like the quieter, melancholy, side of The Gathering, then Agua de Annique are for you. There are hints of this direction on The Gathering album "Home" particularly "Forgotten" and the title track. The loud guitars aren't neglected, but if you are expecting a return to the glory days of the Mandylion and Nighttime Birds albums you'll be disappointed. It seems that when many lead singers go solo, they decide to follow a jazz direction. This isn't quite the case here thankfully, but often the mood is more mellow than before. In any case Anneke has such a soul-enriching voice that I cannot help but be swept along with the tide of whatever musical genre she decides to dip her toe into.