SO HEAVEN IS GONE

..........isn't gone yet guys.

Because this album has tons of it. Long release, one of the longer I've seen in the days of 2010. Reminding me I don't even know what, its sound is quite unique. It's exploration of new land / sound / plane (and whatever) scapes. There's also a lot of dreamy parts, jazzy parts, electronic modulated vocal parts and many others.

Wait a minute, this is Crossover, right ? Then it's OK (it would be OK anyway, because all these elements works here). One can maybe say that there's everything (and this idea wouldn't be too far from truth). I'll add that most of it (almost everything) is pleasant to listen (how they call it, ranging from neutral to beautiful).

Tasmania is a promising "intro" track, slowly building sounds from gentle ambient music, gaining "weight", more detailed textured, it serves as flagship of this album, setting the atmosphere of entire album. When keyboards kicks in, I was quite surprised. I wasn't expecting them, same as Hard Rock riffs that comes after them. This song graduates in harmony of many instruments. Good thing is that it doesn't sound forced, but more like flow of the river. Australia => Tasmania.

Fast Car is different, it's more straight song, not providing so much of innovative things, except solos, that are (if Tasmania was in the end multi-layered, then this must be...) mega-layered. Maybe I just don't like whole feeling of this song so much (some elements here attracts me, but the atmosphere is losing here). However, this song is an exception. Not perfect, but good for sure, because after all, it ends well. Beginning is more mundane though.

Feel Alive is living track, with dreamy vocals.

Angels Face is half jamming, half ambient track. I like this combination, as it's something I don't know too much.

Let's face it, almost everything here is layered. And all tracks seems like dipped in Space Rock (sounds).

The ARNIOE, or There to calm places and Back Again to wild paced tunes (for those who didn't understand, it's rewritten title of "The Hobbit", yep, you can say this too. Some parts will certainly be less favourite in your liking preferences, but that's completely OK. It's very variable music, so this fact is supposed to count with. Plus add that it's almost one-man project (+ guests), it's so long and still interesting and it all results in fine

4(+) for solid (yet ethereal) album.

WOW & UNBELEIVABLE.

Believe it or not, ARNIOE (band, artist, project) haven't even got a record deal yet. !!!!!. They have produced and self funded 4 albums to date, with this latest effort, double CD ? 'So Heaven Is Gone' and what a prog delight this baby is.

Firstly, THIS IS a lengthy album with almost 2 hours of compositions.

The next element of surprise is the variety: ARNIOE do not seem to fit into any category of such (the PA Crossover Team have certainly got this one right), they just seem to compose material how they feel, and the quality of songs are no more evident than on this album : Atmosphere, moody, heavy, spacey, dreamy with clever double meaning lyrics all performed with great musicianship and production.

This album is advertised somewhere as 'A Headphone Must' and this is absolutely true, as there is so much going on in the background, quite amazing, but not overdone.

Aron's vocals suit the softer dreamier songs incredibly well, and when he requires more 'umpf' on the heavier tracks, he is well supported by backing vocals by Mahne Dupre and The Dover Gospel Singers. Aron's guitar work is very 'Gilmore-ish' with Greg Genna playing the faster guitar passages, both combining beautifully.

Every song on this album has something special about it, and that is probably the reason why it is on 'high rotation' in my CD player ? almost like listening to a 'best of' from a variety of bands. If you don't like variety in your music ? you will hate this, but this album is Crossover Prog AT ITS BEST and with such, holds a special place amongst my 1500+ CD collection.