Divine Works is a concept created by Hildegard von Bingen. Bingen was a remarkable mystic and nun who lived in the Rhine region of Germany from 1098-1179. She had majestic visions of God and Divine objects, and her first vision of God "told" her to write down all of her future visions. She was a woman of many talents, but what she is best known for, however, are the beautiful nun chants she composed. In fact, she is the earliest composer whose full biography is known.

Zundel draws on these phenomenal chants to create a spellbinding and mystical sound experience, much like Enigma's MCMXC a.D. or Pilgrimage's 9 Songs of Ecstasy. This album is similar to Enigma's first, but much more laid-back. This album is unsettling and disturbing at times, yet peaceful and calm at others. Besides a focus on the nun chants, other featured instruments and voices include soft drums, ambient synth, muted pianos, nouveau-flamenco guitar, poetry spoken by a female voice (Susann Caroll), and Zundel's trademark instrument: the cello.

The best-known Divine Works song is Ancient Person of My Heart, a gem which is masterfully constructed and sonically brilliant. O'Ecclesia showcases Hildegard's best-known and most beautiful chant of the same name. Divine Works II has some nostalgic-sounding, 80's-like synth. Father of Eternal Life is darkly lovely and quite chilling. While every track on this disc is beautiful, I find myself most drawn to Gloria Deo Patri, which I’d say has the best beat of any track on the album. This piece also features a soaring cello solo. In this song, the nuns actually sound like they're singing with the music, instead of being sampled on top of it.

I also think The Graces Naked Danced is beautiful; the chants and voices are wonderful and the cello solo used is probably the best one I've ever heard. The synth is aquatic and bubbly and highly enjoyable. Tranquillity has some of the most beautiful chord structures and longing voices (are they monks?) that I've heard in a long time. The album's final full piece is Da Nobis Indicio (At the Judgment Day), a very dramatic piece. I'm reminded of Greco-Roman architecture, perhaps complete with a gladiator match, when I hear the menacing strings and intense percussion (including powerful timpani). Around all of these sonic jewels, the interludes (Interlude I and Interlude II), opener (Divine Works I), and outro (Divine) are beautiful as well, and I have always felt that the presence of short intro/closing/segue tracks round out a wonderful listening experience.