REMINDED

On first listen, I was a little disappointed not to hear the warm acoustic playing I usually associate with Australian progressive band Myriad on their latest track `Reminded'. Luckily that passed...and very quickly too! If those acoustic elements are what have always given the band's music a very human and grounded feel, then `Reminded' sees the band aim straight for outer space and beyond! Myriad have compiled a number of ideas into an exciting and cohesive mini epic, and it seems a lot longer than the 6 minutes it runs for. It flows beautifully, never over-cramped or too busy, and everything can be heard clearly in the perfectly balanced mix too.

Beginning with Rush-like atmospheric chunky bass and drums, it has a dreamy and plodding sound filled with mystery and drama. Evocative melodic electric guitar runs and thick synths not unlike the lost-in-space 80's Eloy albums `Planets' and `Time To Turn' give the track an other-wordly and floating quality. Love the percussion-led middle section, before a knockout soaring electric solo from talented Matthew Heindorff that has become the Myriad trademark. It's one of his best, most melodic and grand solos yet, very uplifting. The heavy drum sound from Steve Clark has a lot of booming echo that highlights the deep-space sound, and it's perfect for some `air drumming'!

Hopefully a sign of even better things to come, this is the sound of a band still moving forward, progressing, pushing themselves and their listeners. I think a good combination of their traditional acoustic elements and the spacey elements of this piece will be a real winner!

More new material can't come soon enough from this talented Australian progressive project.