AQUARIUS

"Aquarius" has been released in 2017 as the debut album of a Dutch one-man project GLORIOUS WOLF by a guitarist / multi- instrumentalist Ruud DIELEN. Through this stuff, we can hear and enjoy Ruud's massive creativity ... his guitar sounds are quite cool and hard-edged like a rolling stone but at the same time precious and dreamy like a merry-go-round. Heavy, deep, jazzy, stoner, and pop - various moments can be heard via his instruments (this is a reason why it be difficult for him to find an appropriate sub-genre place in Progarchives actually). This sound texture and musical diversity can remind me of the same tendency towards King Crimson or so, that might exert inspiration for Ruud. Of course he's NOT mere a "so-called progressive" or "sham-progressive" player but a promising one who would try to produce his identity by adopting lots of musical elements, I imagine.

At first try to the opening suite "Aquarius", that should drive us crazy. We cannot digest sound direction and dimension launched via his guitar out easily. There is something akin to confusion of melodic scenes featuring acceptability and predicament. The combination is a novelty. Another novel one "Broken Arrows" is my favourite that is filled with dreamy atmosphere and psychedelic structure. His innovative, hard-to-grab approach can be touched here. "Healing Colours" can be called as kinda moment when we can be relaxed by pleasant, delightful, natural phrases. And we must wonder when and where we listened to the soundscape in the following "Old Diamonds Shine Brighter" ... we can laugh and speculate where he dropped on whilst the recording. Not sure whether his vision of sound can be approved by everyone or not but let me say, this album is worth tryin'.