EROS & THANATOS

The sixth album from this band from Brazil and a very big chunk of new music too.

There is a five years long gap between this and the previous album. Eros & Thanatos being a double album and over ninety minutes long, I take a wild guess and take it that these ninety minutes is the sum of five years song writing.

Haddad's music is pretty uncomplicated prog, bordering to pop/rock. If you are into intricate details and masterful use of instruments; do not bother about reading the rest of this review. This album is not for you. What you get here is a lot of piano based ballads mixed up with some half speeded up songs. Some of the music is dangerously close to be considered housewife pop. But most of the music here is what we safely can label as music for those who have lived a while. That means rocking chair, finger biscuits and tea. Nurse alert; I guess I will enjoy this album far more in 20 years time than now.

The music is not without some nice details though. Although some of the music here is dreary piano ballads, some of the music is also full of small interesting details. Mostly when the keyboard is fired up and is let loose with some fortissimo jazz inspired melodies. That's when even a middle aged man like myself enjoys what comes out of the speakers.

In short; this album has it's good and bad sides. But the overall quality is good. But let's say I will wait some years to play this album again. Ninety minutes with this type of music is a bridge too far for me. A belated three stars and a memo to my local retirement home.

3 stars