FLOATING ON ASCENDING PLAINS

I feel very fortunate to have legit copies of both of MYRIAD's albums, they are almost impossible to find. MYRIAD are an Australian band who play a psychedelic brand of music and are led by multi-instrumentalist Matthew Heindorff. It took 2 years in the studio to finish this record and unlike the debut from five years earlier we get some heaviness although not a lot. It kind of reminds me of when PORCUPINE TREE decided to add heaviness on the "In Absentia" album, but here there is far, far less of that. When you open up the cd you see these words: "The earth rolls upon her wings the sun givith his light by day the moon givith her light by night and the stars also give their light as they roll upon their wings in their glory in the midst of the power of God."

"Stepping Stones To Monastic Overview" opens with sparse sounds that echo and pulse. "Visions Of Sinai (First Canto)" opens with spacey winds then it kicks in abruptly and heavily. Love the chunky bass here. It settles back 1 1/2 minutes in with synths, bass and drums standing out.Vocals 2 minutes in. What a great sounding tune. It kicks back in briefly before 6 1/2 minutes then a spacey calm takes over to end it. "Flood Of Understanding" opens with strummed guitar and another guitar playing over top. It all stops 3 1/2 minutes in as a spacey atmosphere rolls in. Strummed guitar after 6 minutes then the organ joins in.The guitar stops as it turns spacey again then it kicks in before 10 1/2 minutes to end it.

"Visions Of Sinai (Second, Third and Fourth Cantos)" builds and we get some huge bass as the guitar starts to solo around 2 minutes. Amazing ! It kicks in with vocals at 3 minutes. It turns spacey before 6 1/2 minutes but the drums still pound away.The drums stop a minute later and we get some relaxed guitar melodies as reserved vocals join in.The vocals stop 9 minutes in as drums, deep bass and guitar take over. Incredible sound. "Forever Fading Days" features laid back guitar and vocals. We get some keys late that really remind me of BAUER. It's spacey to end it.

I'm such a fan of this band and their style. I still like the debut better but both are "must haves" in my opinion.