MIND OUT OF MIND

When I posted my Best of 2022 list, I noted that the central US had an especially strong showing on it, with five of the top 25 hailing from either St. Louis or Minneapolis. One doesn't normally think of the Midwest as one of the major hotbeds of prog, alongside southern England, Northern Italy, and (more recently) Scandinavia. But the band Kansas (from Topeka) was a major success in the mid-to-late '70s, and smaller bands like Zerfas (Indianapolis) and Yezda Urfa (Portage, IN) have since received cult acclaim. Even in the two years I lived in Kansas I found a couple of great local prog bands: Flight/Dirigible Squared and The Last Glacier (both long defunct or disbanded, sadly). So it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that a group from Minneapolis has put out another great progressive rock record.

Coming two years after Return to the 'E', Mind Out of Mind is this trio's second full-length album. The eerie, Sergeant Pepper's-meets-They Live album art is an excellent complement to the music here. It's flashy and attention-grabbing, but there is a lot of subtle weirdness that gradually unveils itself, too.

The album opens on its longest song, the almost-10-minute title track. A diverse array of keyboard tones bounce, glide, and skitter to create a rich textural backdrop for the subdued vocals. There's a strong sense of urgency and anxiety to this track, and it's driven along with a halting, nervous guitar line. Around the four-minute mark, the song moves into a slow, quiet passage. The folk elements add a bit of warmth, and I'm especially fond of the vocal arrangement. The third part of this song draws from more modern prog sounds, such as Porcupine Tree and The Pineapple Thief. There's a restrained but menacing atmosphere about it, and it builds to a fantastic climax that revisits themes from the song's opening.

"Good-Looking" follows, and it's a much more straightforward piece. There's a relaxed, funky backbone to this song. The chorus is a bit awkward, but it's still got charm.

Those funky, lightly jazzy vibes continue with "In the Lost & Found". Synthesizers and electric pianos build an outer-space atmosphere, and the brief piano solo sounds like it was played by Billy Preston. As much as I like this band's use of low-mixed vocals, there are points on this song where they're mixed a bit too low. The midsection has a bouncy, propulsive feel fueled by an energetic guitar riff and more interstellar synths.

"Time Will Tell?" is a gentle interlude primarily focused around multilayered vocals. This piece leads into "Tell Me the Lore", the opening of which channels some of Yes's folkier moments. The organ and synth on this cut are buoyant, lending this whole piece a sunny, optimistic feel.

Wah-wahed keyboards and rubbery bass thump under languid guitar tones in "Millipede Man". The arrangement is more minimal than elsewhere on the album, but it works out well. I also appreciate how prominently the bass is mixed. The lyrics mention a "return to the 'E';" I haven't scrutinized the lyrics for conceptual throughlines, but there might be something there to interpret more closely.

Mind Out of Mind closes on "Answers in the Glass". Speedy, sequenced synths and a buzzy, Chris Squire-sounding bass-and-synth line propel this song. The vocals are unusually dramatic and expressive here, and it works wonderfully with this piece's amped-up feel. The final few minutes are ascendant, and some great psychedelic effects are applied to vocal and instrumental parts alike.

This new album from K'mono is exactly the sort of retro-prog album I love, though I do hesitate to use that label with this band. They unashamedly draw from key players of the 1970s, but they also have their own twists, and more modern sensibilities are evident too, especially in the mixing and arrangements. It's recognizably "prog" with an engaging musical throughline, and there are lots of lovely little twists and surprises. I really liked the band's increased inclusion of funk influences in this album. Definitely give this a listen if you're a fan of the classic prog sound.

Review originally posted here: theeliteextremophile.com/2023/05/15/album-review-kmono-mind-out-of-mind/

A relatively new and exciting band, this Minneapolis-based Progressive rock trio takes their inspiration from the classic 70's prog masters, such as Yes and Pink Floyd, but add a whole lot more into their sound. Featuring elements of space-rock, psychedelia, and funk sprinkled throughout, as well as some more modern touches in addition to their classic prog approach, which gives the band a fresh and lively style and sound. This is their 2nd album, following Return to the 'E' (2021). There is much diversity throughout the album, as they can create something right out of the Yes style songbook, such as Tell Me the Lore, but other tracks take very different approaches. On songs like In the Lost and Found and Answers in the Glass, they start by laying down a funky groove, then build on it and see just where they can take it, and they take them to some amazing places. Good-Looking seems to be their play for a more mainstream pop-oriented single, but still with their own unique spin. Overall, just a unique and wonderful album that is both somewhat familiar but also unlike anything you've heard before. A truly great find and certainly a band to watch going forward. Best Tracks: In The Lost and Found, Tell Me The Lore, Answers in the Glass, Mind Out of Mind. Rating: 4.5 stars

Apollon Records sent me this promo copy towards the end of 2023 or early 2024 and I just assumed it was some kooky Norwegian band as this is where that record label resides, so I was very surprised to read this trio are from Minneapolis. I mean check out the cover art and the back cover, both are hilarious. I honestly thought this was a parody of our music at first, it's humerous and extremely well played with many bands coming to mind over the 41 1/2 minutes. So many different styles with the 80's coming to mind a lot early on. A lot of my feeling have to do with the fact that they channel many vocals styles as well over this album.

Without question one of the most exciting and bizarre records I've heard in a while. I don't have their debut but the band was placed here under Neo Prog based on it, this one sounds more like a Crossover record to me. The art work inside is so well done as this is apparently a recording about a deposed king. Unique artwork even on the physical cd itself. The band lists CAMEL, KING CRIMSON and YES as big influences and of those I did think of YES the most.

That opening title track at almost 10 minutes really had my attention the first time I heard it. Sounds like Jonas Renske from KATATONIA singing in his mono-toned way but the music is far from his band. Synths, beats and mellotron lead early then it turns more powerful.I'm thinking KING GZZARD during the calm with vocals then PT-like around 7 minutes this is an incredible start. The bass pops throughout this recording and I like the keyboards a lot as well. Drumming top notch while guitar is mostly not in the style I like.

"Good Looking" is so 80's sounding I mean come on! Catchy and kind of cool I suppose. I did think of THE CHURCH here with the twangy guitar and vocals. "In The Lost & Found" has more of that guitar I was just talking about and this is a long one at over 8 minutes. Piano here for a change. Hit and miss overall but I like the synths here. "Tell Me The Lore" is the closest to being a Neo track but I would also suggest this has YES written all over it. I like the chorus a lot. "Millipede Man" is intricate and punchy early and is another track drawing on the 80's. THE BOX especially with those deeper vocals. The closer "Answers In The Glass" opens with electronics as drums and bass join in. High pitched distant vocals too and they will become the focus. There's some treated spoken words in a powerful instrumental section that is repeated that I really like on this one.

So refreshing this recording even if it sounds familiar from the beginning to the end. This is one of those rare records that stands out from the pack. A lot of fun and a solid 4 stars..