OUROBOROS

With Ouroboros Spanish symphonic proggers Kotebel have delivered one of the outstanding releases of 2009. An improvement over their previous studio album Omphalos, which while being good, was marred by operatic female vocals which were a bit overpowering for me. They only briefly appear at the end of the album here, the rest of it being instrumental. Ouroboros is darker sounding creating more musical tension than its predecessor and with a harder sound.

The seven compositions including three pieces around the 15 minute mark are complex, dense and atmospheric, skilfully executed with lots of dynamics where the powerful interplay between electric guitar, keyboards and the versatile rhythm section gives way to melancholic restraint. The music constantly shifts through varying themes and time changes with pleasing melodies, always maintaining the listeners' interest.

There's no doubting the musical pedigree of these excellent players as they create their largely symphonic prog with some fusion thrown in for good measure. I'm reminded to some extent of Syrinx only with electric guitars replacing the acoustic favoured by the French quartet.

Ouroboros is an album I've constantly returned to over the last few months, never tiring of it. A great one to turn out the lights and chill out to. Highly recommended.