NINE PATHS

Knight Area is one of those bands that had a kind of humble start, with a good, but a bit immature and derivative debut CD. But what seemed initially to be a second league group did grow and fulfilled the initial promise like very few other artists did. So much so I was wondering if they could keep the pace, since their last two albums were quite impressive, specially the powerful live double set Rising Signs From The Shadows (2010). So I approoached Nine Paths with great care and tried not to expect too much. Fortunatly I found out I had nothing to fear. This dutch band is definitly at their best moment and this is Kinght Areaás best album so far.

Since the very first moments I heard from the 10 minute opener Eversince You Killed Me I had the feeling I was listening to one of those brilliant records you only find rarely. It is ok that this group is surely the "song oriented" kind of prog, but I see nothing wrong with it. Much on the contrary. I don´t like pointless experimentalisms or too much noodling. Here you can see the musicians are good, but they are also fine songwriters and team players. They use their fine technique for the sake of the music, not to show off. And it is not everyday you hear such fine collection of tunes that are at the same time pleasant, melodic and powerful. Every song on Nine Paths is perfect: not a single note is wasted, everything fits right in. The arrangements are tasteful, the guitar and keys timbres are great and their songwriting skills are simply awesome. The CD is also helped by the excellent production.

There are no highlights on the album. Those guys were inspired! It is one of those records you can hear from start to finish without skipping a single moment. All the tracks are excellent, without exception. Even the simple love ballad Please Come Home (with Delains´singer Charlotte Wessels guesting on vocals) is done with such care and feeling you can not help but love it. Alongside with their dutch fellows of Flamborough Head, Knight Area is probably one of the bands that has evolved the most both as a group and as songwriters. And, more important, they have found their very own sound. Nowadays they sound like no one else.

If you like progressive rock like it used to be (i.e. complex and elaborated, yet accessible and melodic), Nine Paths is an excellent pick. One of the best records from 2011.

Final ratings: 4,5 stars