HETEROTOPIA

This is the best, 5 stars easy! Right from the start of my first listen I knew this was going to rock, the Overture lets you know what to expect, a ton of piano and synth and a feeling that we are hearing familiar sounds in a very modern way. I was reminded of Phideaux, Supertramp, and Kate Bush as the songs continued, but don't be mistaken, this album doesn't sound like any of them overall. There is so much here I couldn't take it all apart, but a few highlights: Edge of a Dream has 2 or 3 different refrains that are stuck in my head all day. How cool is The Leitmaiden with the synth and glitched vocals, and similarly, You and I using the two to create a creepy atmosphere before turning around in the second half. The ending of the latter and Into Tomorrow have me suddenly reminded of Marillion, those 80s synth and overdriven guitar soloing, and again, what a chorus! Power of the Ghost is single-ready but also one of the best songs on the album. This album is my most pleasant surprise of 2017 so far, 99 minutes long and I listen to the whole thing each time. You just have to hear this if you are a fan of concept albums or any of the mentioned bands. I think a talented group of musicians put a lot of effort in and have created a classic.