ECHOLYN

Well I do consider myself an ECHOLYN fan and was very much looking forward to this along with the new RUSH, MAGMA and ANGLAGARD which have all been released fairly close to one another. Life is good right ? Anyway I love ECHOLYN's debut along with "Suffocating The Bloom" , "Cowboy Poems Free" and "The End Is Beautiful". Maybe it's odd that "As The World" and "Mei" do nothing for me. This latest one at least does something for me, in fact I really like 3 of the 8 tracks here. Of course it doesn't take a mathematician to figure out that that doesn't translate into a winner for yours truly. I like that they made it two discs even though it all could have went on one. Kind of a nod to us guys who used to or do listen to vinyl. The song-writing is as usual A+ which is why I don't understand why they didn't add the lyrics to the liner notes. All this aside the music is what matters most to me and to my ears it's lacking. There's so much mellow music with the focus more on the lyrics which reminds me of how most concept albums are (this isn't one) and why I usually don't like them.

"Island" is clearly a top three. This might be getting close to 17 minutes but man the time flies by. I like the aggressive and uptempo start and the guitar before 3 minutes. It then settles with vocals but not for long. Nice chunky bass too. It settles back 7 1/2 minutes in with reserved vocals then kicks back in before 10 1/2 minutes. A calm a minute later then it builds. Just a great track that will go down as one of their best. "Headright" is a short upbeat and energetic tune with clapping, a beat, vocals and more. It's okay. "Locust To Bethleham" is laid back early with vocals but it does become mid-paced then settles back again. Strings in this one too. I like the lyrics but overall i'm not sold. "Some Memorial" has a fairly heavy intro with drums, organ and more. It settles a minute in and the vocals join in. The tempo will continue to shift. Nice guitar before 9 1/2 minutes then a calm after 11 minutes to end it.

Disc two starts with "Past Gravity" which opens with tender vocals and gentle sounds. It builds some until we get a full sound before 3 minutes and even fuller 3 1/2 minutes in. It's brief though as it settles back. An uplifting section comes in after 5 1/2 minutes then it settles back again. "When Sunday Spills" is about domestic violence and is therefore quite emotional with the samples of the victim screaming and yelling and so on. "Speaking In Lampblack" is a top three. Processed vocals eventually become normal as we get strings and piano helping out. This reminds me of latter day ANATHEMA. So yes I like it. It picks up before 5 minutes with a beat. A fuller sound before 8 minutes. This is good as strings and vocals continue. "The Cardinal And I' ends it and this is my final top three. This is more like it instrumentally as it kicks in quickly with organ and some heaviness. A guitar solo 1 1/2 minutes in too. It does settle with reserved vocals but I love the heaviness after 6 minutes. The lyrics are once again so well done.

So i'm disappointed after all the hype but i'll continue to enjoy my four favourite albums from them. This one, not so much.