Ilk seems to have gathered a larger congregation than the many other Richard Youngs/Andrew Paine collaborations, and while the project undoubtedly deserves it, it?s hard to figure out the discrepancy. Perhaps its Ilk?s Prog leanings that have snagged a few of the old school along the way on this their third release in nearly a decade. Youngs? opening cry of ?Enter? on the opening ?Salutation of the Elders? has a rallying fragility to it, setting the scene for his gentle aplomb rather than the stepping peacock vocals associated with the genre. It?s difficult to think of any of today?s current and/or worthwhile artists (who aren?t re-treading past glories) that are using and revisiting Prog?s tools in any sort of semi-serious fashion. There are fusing and recurring elements here, but there?s openness to breadth also, taking in folk and experimental rock sounds ? moments of improvisation sitting comfortable within their compositions. There?s something peculiar about the way that Ilk?s songs turn out. It might be easy to pick out the more well-known genre signifiers but the duo afford the music enough legroom to give itself a bizarre melodic edge. ?Noblesse Portent? is a steady instrumental lurch of knifepoint nerves, Ilk exercising askew melodies that creep upwards like insistent deadly ivy. The vocal at times takes the form of weighty worded near-narration, songs wrapping themselves around the strong sung melody. The subtle bass work on ?Again Recurring? stays calm beneath paint strokes of psychedelic tuned guitar, the whole thing coming together as probably their most easily digested and best song to date. Youngs and Paine need to pencil in these Ilk sessions more often. 8/10 -- Scott McKeating (8 April, 2008)