IF WE WERE LIVE

Yep, this is a studio album. And this is your cue to request, "Please explain this better."

I transcribe here the words on their website, in this regard: By the release of Over the Underworld [the previous album], the discography had grown well, and yet no real possibility of playing live was in the near future. Combining his infatuation for non-traditional album concepts and the then very present desire to release a nice-sounding live album, Sean decided to create a "fake show", complete with pre-show banter, dialogue and audience participation. ​ "It was a lot of fun to make," Sean reminisces. "I believe it included the most voiceover guests for any album we've done.

Now for my review: starts as if they were recording someone entering an establishment where a show is about to begin. You can clearly hear the door been opened, the individual passing through the peanut/soda seller, and sneaking into the crowd. Just when the instruments are being prepared. That's the opening track.

Rhythmic sections are very robust and consistent on the second track, with well developed changes of harmonies. Full-bodied vocals, with interesting nuances in textures, volume and combination of long and short notes. There's a point where an excellent guitar solo comes along, and a bit after that, the "audience" applauds. The frontman, on the end, says "Hello everybody, welcome to the illusory palace, and welcome to the show".

When they open the next song, the bass delivers a simple but effective rhythym, before the entrance of the full cuisine, which is a bit heavier now, specially on the bass itself. Synthesizers economically but effectively stitch together the composition. Otherwise, there are moments when this instrument backs up, in order to give more space for the dialogues between the drums and guitar. Right on the middle of this track occurs an abrupt change, with a gorgeous erudit piano carrying alone the song. But quickly been accompanied by synths emulating strings, gentle and sweet. A little after that the drums accelerate a lot, during a short period. A bit henceforth, a variety of cadences and key signatures are performed. Well, the composition here is a bit confusing and lost, but nonetheless it's still a good effort.

A fingered guitar and soft touches on the piano are the start of the fourth track. The music grows some steps, before fabulous vocal harmonies, on a more melodic mood, are executed by two musicians. The drums keeps up with this proposal. A nice guitar solo, with clean and inspired notes, appears. The vocal timbres are velvety. Great music! On the end there are applauses, what happens on all tracks. I think it would be strange if there wasn't, 'cause it's included by the musicians themself. Well, here, on the end of the cheers, the frontman thanks "them" and says that the next song is a tribute to a friend. I can't help myself of thinking playfully: "is it an immaginary or a real friend?"

The cadence is almost a march on the entrance of the next song. The turning points on the harmonies are well constructed and grow firmly. Suddenly they shut this enterprise down and jump to a melancholic and quite diggy playing on the acoustic guitar. The lyrics are about poisoning, death and other mournful content. The sound mass gets higher, but not enough to distance them from that lugubrious mood. On its half they speed up, centralizing the composition on the magnific vocals. On the other hand, they soon present very inventive instrumental key signatures. That's before the synth brings back the dismal framing. It's a pity their are moments when they don't explore more of this hipnotizing enterprise. Anyway, the chant and the instrumental are always creative and diversified. Onn the end bass and the emulation of a half-harpsichord-half-synth make a solid tenebrous partnership. High level on practically all it's near 12min.

The beginning of the 6th track has a metal-oriented guitar. Bass seems to be competing with him, making them get tangled up. The drums doesn't find its place, this time. They all get better from the guitar solo henceforth, and when the synth assumes the main role.

Vocals reach high notes on the next song, and this is a good entrance. Both bass and guitar are heavy, but none of them are making a speedy execution, resulting in a superb partnership. Drums play some simple, sober, nice turnovers, with elegant cadences. Almost on the end they blend amazing harmonies. The frontman seems excited when he says "Alright, thank you so much. We're gonna leave you with some more, it's called The Great March".

What a start on this one! A chorus backwards precedes a perfect combination between the cymbals, guitar and a "dark" synth. Some seconds later, the chorus rises its dramaticity. Impactful chant switch with grandiose instrumental. This is really stunning! And a superb choice as the "closing" of the show. How impressive are the subtle and rich changes on bass and drums from one moment to another. When everything is already magnific, a delicate and charming piano enters. Spectacular! Guitar, more melodic here, is also on a high standard. Some moments later, there's this snippet somewhat more simple, but it's very short, and they return to awesome changes of harmonies and arrangements. On the 10th minute the arrangements low down a bit on creativity, the key signatures get mixed up without cohesion. With 12min the group gets more prog metal, the bass and drums together result in an odd musicality. So, these ups and not-so-ups (I'd write 'downs', but it would be unfair) make this track at least a little too long. When they reach the 15th minute there's an acoustic section, and a very different chant is improved, with a metallic tone. Now the band is delivering a very beatiful and hopeful song, I even want to sing along. The already expected applause follows, and the frontman is affected: "Wow... you guys are unreal!" And after a short pause amends: "Alright, let's do one more".

The last one has an exciting and stimulating AOR musicality, very vocal-oriented. With 1min the singer calls the audience to sing along. And what an amazing tone they reach, hehe! They make a duet, with the frontman performing the refrains, and the audience assumes the chorus.

Smart and original album. For this part I'll give'em a 4,8. Musically, I choose a 4 stars rate. Final rating 4.2.

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