CHANGES

I listened to this album after I got "Basnie" the debut album CD. When I spun the debut album at first time, it blew me away right away. What made me blown away was the fact that Collage uses multi-layered keyboards nicely, coupled with stunning guitar playing in the vein of neo prog music. This album is similar with the debut in style. I would say the music of this album represents the combination of Pallas, IQ, Pendragon, Jadis and a bit of Pulsar. Why Pulsar? Well, you might observe how the melody leads the music through a bit of spacey kind of nuance. The other attraction point for me is the fact that non-English lyric is being used. It does fit with the music. The music is dynamic, performed in high energy.

If you claim yourself as neo progressive music, this album offers you with a stream of music with good composition, balanced moods with upbeat as well as mellow tracks. The opening track "Zmiany (Changes)" (4:43) is an energetic song with inventive keyboard work, stunning howling guitar and dynamic drumming. This something unusual with typical neo prog music which usually does not give a good chance for drums to perform dynamic work. The vocal line is uplifting. It flows to mellow track with nice guitar solo and keyboard solo "Kolysanka '87 (Lullaby '87)" (4:45). The nextr track "My Czarodzieje (We Wizards)" (3:25) is also another good track with ambient mood. "Nocy Zamyslona (Night Falls)" (7:50) starts with a catchy guitar work with mellotron work. The non-English lyrical song makes the music much more entertaining. The violin work is also very good.

"Just Like Heaven (part 1)" (5:30) starts wonderfully with pulsating keyboard solo followed with upbeat tempo music which flows naturally. It flows then into mellow style "Just Like Heaven (part 2)" (3:01). "The Blues '92" (5:48) is another upbeat mood music with great keyboard work as well as keyboard, augmented by dynamic basslines. "Sun Meadows" (4:30) starts with drums solo followed by keyboard.

Overall, what I can say is that this is a very good album by Collage which has a similarity in style of music with IQ, Pallas and Pendragon. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW