INTERLOPER

US based project GOTHIK SERPENT is the creative vehicle of Singapore-born composer and musician Kerwin Tsang, a solo project that got expanded with the participation of additional musicians as it developed. "Interloper" is the first of so far two albums to be released under this moniker, and appeared in 2014.

If there is one defining aspect of this production, then it is diversity. The forty or so minutes of music on this production slithers it's way through a multitude of different styles and orientations, and does merit a description as an eclectic feature more than anything.

The more challenging endeavors here are also the more appealing to my ears at least. More often than not with a nod or three in the direction of King Crimson, Robert Fripp and Trey Gunn, the instrumental compositions on this album explores a quirky landscape with gliding instrument details and occasionally more abrasive but compelling details, more often than not with room for some jazz-oriented details and occasionally more distinct jazzrock features to boot, where especially the bass lines may take on something of a funky vibe on occasion.

Supplementing these more demanding instrumental is a set of songs that, by and large, operates much closer to the borderlands in between progressive rock and progressive metal. Subtle traces of a band like Porcupine Tree might be found here, especially in the manner that they tend to alternate between gentler and more hard hitting arrangements, although in terms of overall style, mood and atmosphere I'd compare these songs to the perhaps not quite as well known French trio Delusion Squared, where the lead vocals of Tricia Isabela in particular have some striking similarities in timbre to Delusion Squared's Lorraine Young. Unfortunately Ms. Isabela isn't as strong a vocalist in terms of control from what I can hear. Her choice of tone and scale is also one I found somewhat puzzling at times, which for me made her contributions something of a detrimental aspect of this album I'm afraid. She does have a compelling and likable voice, but for me she came across as somewhat untrained.

"Interloper" is an interesting production, where the instrumental compositions in particular comes across as inspiring in a subtly challenging, Crimson and Trey Gunn meets jazzrock kind of manner. And while the supplemental arguably more mainstream oriented slightly metal-tinged progressive rock cuts may have a wider general appeal, it is the more challenging aspects of this album I'd suggest lending an ear to first and foremost, with third track Interceptor the track where I'd start listening to get a feel for that aspect of this album.