PITFALLS

As an avid fan of Leprous, growing up with this band since my first years on this site back in the early 2000s, believe me when I say that judging one of their albums is quite difficult for me. I have to say that their previous album 'Malina' stands as one of the favorite albums in my collection of any band of any genre. This one was quite shocking to hear, at first. That's a good thing. I expect to be challenged by the artists every once in a while. I've been spinning this one for about half a year now, and I'm still having a hard time placing it. It has taken me a long time to 'get' this one, and I find it ironic, because there is a lot less to digest musically here than other albums that have stumped me before. This is the first Leprous album to challenge me like this, so here we go. As a Leprous album, it just doesn't match their other works. So, let me do this, let me strip away my pre-conceived beliefs in what this band I love so much is. This is Leprous in its more delicate and minimalistic. I can see how one might say they are more accessible with this album, but I would argue the opposite just as much. There is a subtlety and finesse to the delivery on this work that Leprous hasn't shown as of yet, till now. I can't understand how this is accessible from a mainstream standpoint, because even if the songs can be catchy at times, there is no way this music would find its' place on a top 100 list. The subtlety of vocals, of the drumming ghost notes, of the light textures of layers of sounds is like a Radiohead album built for extreme metal fans. Square peg into a round hole or something like that, this kind of music isn't easily digested by the common listener. This album reminds me of how I felt about Anathemas 'A Natural Disaster', both clearly got their inspirations from some of the same places. This over use of electronic soundscape, and a lesser emphasis on the musical skill of this band (of which is of incredibly high caliber I can assure you, just listen to 'Malina') I suppose I should be congratulating Leprous for this self-control for sake of the vision/art. If anything, I find this one to a pallet cleanser of sorts, as the last 3 albums had a natural curve, it was in fact time for something different. To give you an idea how I am coming to terms with my feelings on this album, this is the question I ask myself "How does this musical art hold up from beginning to end, as a cohesive thematic unit (that's the objective) and how does it hold my attention (the subjective)" Well, I think not one song is misplaced, there is a flow and dynamic path throughout this album from beginning to end that I follow without delineation. I've said this before, and again, I'll say it - I'm not judging this album based on how 'progressive' it is. I don't know what that is supposed to mean anyway, and again, I don't care because everyone's idea of what is 'progressive' is different. Does this work of musical art maintain its composure throughout? Yes, it does. Radiohead- esque, catchy and poppy melodies, and further we go away from those 70's prog giants into the future of Wilson, Riverside, and PoS.