ARCHITECTS OF TIME

This album, like Ben Rusch's other 2010 release, is just a bit too new agey for my tastes. But even so, I like this one more than the other release, primarily because of Rusch's songwriting. On "The Truth Of All Love", the lyrics were written by Simon Charlton. On this album Rusch wrote his own lyrics, and the album is better for it. I particularly enjoy his humor.

The music itself is quite good. The compositions are interesting and complex. The instrumentation, acoustic guitar and piano primarily, is what can sometimes give the album a new agey sound. But Rusch's matery of the instruments keep them from getting boring.

This is a pleasant album, that I will probably bring out when company is over. It's compelling, without being overbearing.

Many thanks to Ben Rusch, a PA member, for making these albums available for review.

Nice album from this German talent!

Once again, the advantage of being in a site like Progarchives has given me the opportunity of discover new music from bands and artists that were unknown to me, this time Ben Rusch came to my musical repertoire. I actually don't know much about him, I visited his website and now I know he has released more than twenty albums so far, and that also he used a pseudonym, so it is evident that the talent is inherent in him.

The album entitled 'Architechts of Time' is a 2010 effort created by this multi- instrumentalist, featuring twelve compositions that range from 3-4 minutes, and a total time of 41 minutes. What you will find here is a nice salad of gentle sounds, some folk and pastoral music, dreamy passages and tranquilizing tunes. His piano sound is quite good and helps the music creating passionate atmospheres.

The voice is not his stronger point, anyway it is quite decent, delicate and goes well with the music. In the third track one can appreciate a charming viola sound, which according to the credits, was not created by Ben, but by Bimbi Urquhart, it was a good decision to add this musical element.

'Where the wild things are' is such a beautiful song, the repetitive (or better said addictive) guitars are accompanied by vocals and a delicate piano sound, and create a relaxing song which is one of my favorites off this album.

The album in general is good, I would say it is easy to listen due to the charming sound and tranquility it evokes, however, it is a double-sharp weapon, because you either may enjoy it and feel relaxed, or feel bored and exhausted after some tracks, it may be too gentle for some people. There are moments where I actually felt it was enough, in tracks like 'Adam and Eve' I could not stand the voice after some minutes.

My favorite moments are the previously mentioned 'Where the Wild Things are', the opener 'Out of Time' and 'Covering Cold Feet with Warm Sheets'. There is no question about Ben's talent, but maybe this album is too light or in moments poppish to my tastes, actually the prog rock element is not really evident here, however I enjoy it.

If you are willing to discover new music, then you should try Ben Rusch, but if you are not that open minded, then this may not be for you. Three stars.

Enjoy it!

Residing in the UK, composer and musician Ben RUSCH is an active man indeed, with more than two dozen titles to his name in a handful or so of years as a recording artist. "Architects of Time" was released in 2010, and is the 20th out of 25 production he has available as of March 2011.

A trademark feature of Rusch' production would appear to be his lyrics. He is a guy with opinions on many subjects, and sardonic commentaries on social aspects go side by side with ironic observations on matters of life, tall tales as well as lyrics handling more serious matters in a more reflective manner. He's a smooth and eloquent storyteller, and that aspect of his material has a strong identity and generally high quality. One of the better examples of his humorous intent can be found in the case of Adam and Eve, retelling the good old story from the Bible as seen through Adams eyes. Nifty piano and guitar motifs provides the instrumental foundation for a creation that holds high class in all aspects, but where the story told arguably is the main asset.

The piano is a central instrument throughout, and based on this album I'd categorize Rusch as something of a piano man. Slightly similar to an artist like Aaron English, but without the latters taste for world music and jazzy escapades. Instead Rusch appears to have stronger inclinations towards the slightly zany touch rather typical of many artists residing in the UK. And musically a band that kept popping up in my mind while enjoying this production was good old Madness. In particular on the hangover anthem Hand Me a Jet Pack.

Other notable traits are the sophisticated arrangements that appear on regular occasions. From easily audible traits such as the use of multiple guitar layers on Double Helix to the ones of a more subtle nature. Final track Time to Go a neat example of that, where piano and strings at first are used to good dramatic effect, mostly provided by the latter, but as this sad and melancholic ballad evolves the strings role in the proceedings shifts to a dampened, brooding underlying motif adding an emphasis on the serious mood of the composition which lifts this piece from a nice but average variety of this kind of song to one memorable with an impact.

High quality piano motifs and strong lyrics are the main ingredients in Rusch excursion into the world of art pop on this occasion, and those who might fancy an artist where these aspects are highly notable will most likely enjoy this production. A strong effort from a productive and creative artist.

Pleasantries and nice melodies

Ben Rusch is a German multi-instrumentalist and a rather prolific recording artist, churning out album after album filled with pleasant melodic folky rock. This album, "Architects of Time," is no different. Each of the 12 tracks has a nice heartfelt personality to them, with great musicianship and feeling. However, I feel like each song has something missing. Each song, however pretty and melodically rich, seems to have little inspiration. The first few tracks of the album are really nice, but once all 12 tracks roll out of the speakers, they start to run a little dry. Overall, however, the album is full of very nice songs, and is no doubt a good album.

Out of Time is a short instrumental track with some great piano work and some nice guitar backing. With a nice new age kind of feel, the song displays a very pleasant melodic atmosphere, with ambient synth string effects nicely complimenting the piano work. Overall, the song is nothing special, but starts the album off on a nice happy note.

Robin Hood is Currently Unavailable is even shorter than Out of Time, and has a similar formula to the previous track. The piano work is again really beautiful, utilizing some really nice arpeggio-like riffing up and down the keyboard. The vocal melodies are nice and make nice harmonies with the piano. Overall, the song is again nothing remarkable, but has some really nice piano work to its name.

Architects of Time is a slower and more compassionate song. Instituting some nice viola work, the song has a nice jovial personality to it. Although many of the same themes are used again and again in the verses, each theme does have a very nice feeling to it, albeit redundant. Overall, the song offers little variation from a pretty verse-chorus-verse formula, but still has some pretty melodic work.

Where the Wild Things Are has some more strong melodies, as well as some strong lyrical work. The nice guitar and piano work compliment the quiet atmospheres backing them well. The song, although quite consistent in its thematic structure, is a pleasant show of Rusch's mastery over melody.

Double Helix has a nice sweeping manner of the progression of the track. With some nice gallop like rhythmic backings, the steady tempo and consistent rolling of the piano work make this a pleasant, but still unremarkable song. With nice atmospheric guitar work, Rusch throws in a slight post-rock feel, adding a nice dynamic to his music.

Adam and Eve has one the more traditional art pop/rock feel of the songs, opening with a nice piano riff and some traditional percussive rhythms. As with many of the other songs, the piano work is by far the strongest feature of this song. The lyrics are also a high point, with some really nice lines. Overall, the song is pleasant and melodic, but is very similar to most of the other songs on the album.

In a Thousand Years is a short guitar/viola duo, with some pleasant melodies. The song is nothing special as songs on this album go, with little more but consistent viola and guitar chords making up the track.

The Though of You Is New has some more pleasant piano riffing and some nice rhythmic work, but at thins point in the album it sounds all the same. The melodic and piano work, although really nice, seems uninspired with 7 songs almost identical to it backing it.

Hand Me a Jet Pack is one of the more creative songs on the album, with a nice folk-y feel to it and some nice mischievous sounding vocal melodies. Although the song opens as a nice variation to the rest of the album's style, some of the song does return to that jovial melodic feel seen on all the rest of the album.

Where to Put That Foot is another nice melodic piece, although it follows a similar formula to most of the other songs on the album. The piano work is again nice and melodic, and the vocal melodies are again quite nice. Overall, the song offers little new feeling to the album, although the melodies are still nice.

Covering Cold Feet With Warm Blankets is another quiet and heartfelt song. With pleasant acoustic guitar riffing and some nice piano chords behind it, and some compassionate vocals. The lyrics are again really nice, with some more really great lines. Overall, the song is pleasant, but not much else.

Time to Go is a pleasant ender, with a slow piano riff and nice viola backings. Although nothing special comes out of it, it ends the album on a pleasant melancholy note, with some traditional Ben Rusch melodic work.

ALBUM OVERALL: Architects of Time is nice. That's really all there is to say. All 12 tracks have some really pleasant melodies and nice piano work. Each track, although having its own little personality with great piano musicianship, seems to sound just like the next and the previous, each following an almost identical formula. To listen to each track individually and not in succession would be nice, but listening all the way through starts to get stale and uninspired. Pleasant and melodic art pop/rock make for a very pleasant album, but not much else. 3 stars.