NIGHT DREAMS & WISHES

Previous album of Modern-Rock Ensemble was interesting but I am not a big fan of compilation albums. However, my opinion towards 'Touch the Mystery' is changing. MRE has quite special sound and style. On Monday I've received the CD 'Night Dreams & Wishes' and was quite impressed by the quality of the album design. However, what impressed me much more is the Suite itself. VG, as Vladimir calls himself on the sleeve to avoid his complicated surname, is a great 'story teller'. And according to each story (or dream) he had chosen a different genre or style of music. Intro ' done in space rock plus fusion with splashes of flute and some soprano sounds. I had impression of sky full of stars at night and it really turned me in some philosophical, meditative and dreamy, mood. It's a great start. The Overture is very interesting piece of music starting from neo-classic strings, backing guitar riffs, nice cello solo developing into a brighter part with synth harp that later in the suite depicts the morning. However, immediately after that the Overture becomes alive with different rhythms and time signatures, and one by one we are facing the short themes that later will be developed in the Suite. Night Comes. Dreams. It's really one of the most magical parts of the album with elements of retro-prog, space-rock, new age, ambient and a bit of fusion. There are flying fretless bass, acoustic guitars, absolutely charming flute, and then it develops with intriguing tapping guitars, saxes and penetrating guitar solos in the final part. However, some parts are a bit too short. Barocco scherzo starts with a medieval theme, but later on gives an impression that Frank Zappa and his 'Mothers' have joined and spoiled the party. Funny and interesting. Childhood and Schooldays. Very different moods and at times very provocative piece. Story starts with young hooligans, but later on it falls into absolutely amazing Nostalgia played mostly on piano with a little help from guitar, flute and Mellotron. Further on we are coming through funny and a bit naive impressions of childhood with flute and acoustic guitar, there is sweet and nice Mother's Lullaby and' all of a sudden starts 'Schooldays'! It's one of the most interesting and complicated songs due to different rhythms and time signatures. I can hear elements of hard rock, Frank Zappa, jazz-rock and fusion with John MacLaughlin melted together. Very interesting piece and great musicianship: powerful drummer, strong bass, cool guitars and synths. This part ends with very fragile 'First Love' played on synth celesta. The whole piece has reminded me of us hanging out together after school, getting lost in Bronx, chilling with friends, talking girls and just living life to its fullest. Insomnia. This piece IMO is one of the most charming pieces on the album with elements of avant- garde and a 'respect nod' to Gentle Giant as far as I understood from the notes on the album. Nightingales, tapping guitar, flutes and glockenspiel are really fantastic. VG comments on the poster that flutes were played by him on synths ' my compliments. Dark Kingdom and the Evil King Part 1 - Part 3 is the central, most emotional, dark and sometimes very aggressive part of the Suite. I would say that it's a small Suit in itself. I love the Dark Kingdom part with very dark Mellotron and live strings ' it sends shivers down my spine. It continues with The Ball in the Dark Kingdom with a great duo of guitar and flute. In the Part 2 Sympho rock, hard rock, jazz-rock and eclectic prog floods one into another. For me this part of the Suite is very cool, full of great guitar solos, synths, duos and great drumming. I have a lot of emotions respecting the 3 parts, development of the story and a number of intermediate culminations in these parts. In my opinion, Vladimir has his very specific harmonies, melodies and short penetrating solos. One can feel these fights, despair and horror of the battlefield. After 'The Gladiators', which serves like a final culmination of the battle, we are facing the Hymn sung by Vladimir's daughter and very RPI 'The Gladiators' Feast' with elements of tarantella. It's a nice and very joyful final for rather dark, dramatic and complicated piece. Wake Up. A breath of fresh air. Very nice and bright piece after the passion and drama of the previous parts. It starts with the morning birds, theme from the Overture, nice synth solo and some Latin elements in music. Really love it. Lady's voice fills it with hope and beauty. Final / Outro. In the beginning it repeats the part from Wake Up with synth pads instead of the birds singing, but after one minute it becomes alive with passion, temptations and time signatures leading us through some previous parts of the Suite. However, after the emotional part Vladimir calms us down with nice chords on grand piano and reminiscences of the main theme on the 12 string guitar. Charming. Now we are in the final part with all three vocalists, flute, guitars, synths, fretless bass and strings. It ends with brief reprise from Intro. Great piece of sympho rock. What is very interesting and impressive on this album for me, except for the music, is the way guitars, synths and flute were playing in different pieces. They were soothing us down, lulling, telling a story, and then fighting, screaming, wailing and crying. They reflected all of the feelings and events in the Suite. That makes Vladimir's stories or Night Dreams full of life. Before I've recieved the CD I've already listened to the album on the Bandcamp. And you know I was missing something and 'wanted some more'. I don't know why VG have not included this piece in the CD. Ok, it's his decision. I don't understand as well what is the title of the 3-rd piece: in one comment it's called 'Night Comes', in another one it's 'Night, Sleep Tight', and then it's 'Night Creeps in Town'. It's a small fault, but it's good to avoid such things. It's a great album and for sure I will listen to it some more times, many more times.