PICTURES FROM THE OTHER SIDE

I have heard the name of this band being a neo progressikve band and only recently I have a chance to enjoy the music of the band through Pictures From The Other Side (1994) album. Looking at the year of release it's very obvious that this was issued post neo prog early years where Marillion, IQ, Pallas, Pendragon started their debut albums. Even though Marillion was said being the pioneer of neo prog music, I found many neo-prog bands that followed later until recently do-not necessary followed the music- of Marillion. Well, if they follow, it's only the music with mellow style like Chelsea Monday that only represents one of the songs from Script for a Jester's Tear and the most mellow from the album. The opening track The Guardians (12:00) is a keyboard-based composition in relatively upbeat music, combining good vocal work, keyboard solo and nice acoustic guitar fills.-from the opening track alone I can tell that the music of Cyan is interesting to enjoy and explore. I believe that those of you who claim-that you love ndeo prog you would find this opening track is nice and it has been carefully composed by the band. Actually, when I first listened to this track I was not quite impressed as it was too mellow for me while at the same time I was enjoying Redemption Origins of Ruin in prog metal vein. So, you can imagine the gap in music style and it does not seem to connect one another.

The second track Pictures From The Other Side (6:16) is not as strong as the opening one, however, it has nice melody and it uses flute in the music on top of piano. The flute solo is very enjoyable it accentuates the music brilliantly. The keyboard solo is also excellent. The next track Solitary Angel (4:19) opens beautifully with flute in ambient mood followed with low register vocal notes augmented nicely with acoustic guitar.

The stream of music flows nicely from one track to another and it offers similar style of neo prog with most of them are in mellow mode. Keyboard is the key in rhythm section and guitar fills intercept nicely in between segments. The concluding track "Nosferatu (requiem For A Vampire)" (14:03) is I think the best track offered here with varied style and tempo changes in tight composition.

Overall, this is a truly neo progressive rock album that favors those of you who love this sub-genre. For those who love keyboard-based music, you would find it enjoyable. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW