DIVORCED LAND

Swiss label Galileo Records new discovery are a German band named SCYTHE. Previously they have released albums with FORGOTEN SUNS, METAPHOR and XANG. As these releases have been very good the expectations for this album was quite big. "Divorced Land" are the follow up to SCYTHE's debut demo CD "Each Other" (1999), but their first album on Galileo Records. Their music is complex symphonic progressive rock with some reminiscences to GENESIS, KING CRIMSON, MARILLION and YES. You'll probably have to hear this album for some time before you get into it. Everything is very good, but I can't get used to the vocals (but that is just my personal taste), which I find quite boring. All in all this is a promising CD with solid musicianship and complex compositions. When you finally get used to the vocals you'll find a diamond in the rough. Although it is a very good album, it is my least favourite on the Galileo Records label so far. It's however one of the better releases from Germany in a long time.

Scythe's "Divorced land" is, IMHO, one of the best prog releases to come out of Germany in the new millennium: this is a concept album about the miseries of lost love and broken families. The band's style is rooted on the modern symph approach that is usually called neo-prog, refashioned with the combined influences of 75-76 VdGG (dense emotiveness), Novalis and Eloy (harsh guitar parts, lush keyboard layers), and Gabriel-era Genesis (melodic sensitivity). In many ways, I find their style parallel to those of Dagmahr and Discipline (other fave contemporary prog acts of mine). Guitarist Thielen's performance on lead voice helps to convey the emotional restraint described in the lyrics: his hoarse timber - which locates him somewhere between "Still Life"-era Hammill and a somewhat high-pitched Fish - allows him to vocally incarnate the inherent tension of the concept theme. The opening 'Outro' is both majestic and somber, announcing the manifesto of melancholy and hopeless passion that fills the repertoire. The dramatic 'Am I Really Here?', the sophisticated 'Weight of the Wind' (the most complex number in the repertoire, which includes frenzy touches of jazz fusion), and the epics 'One Step Further' and 'Denied' (great closure!) are quite accomplished examples of the band's penchant for writing and arranging long compositions with convincing inventiveness and exquisite musical taste. Gehrards and Thielen complement each other perfectly, allowing their keyboard and guitar parts interact very fluidly, at times alternating or dueling in solos, but mostly, creating emotionally rich ambiences that properly enhance the melodic potential of the composed ideas. Meanwhile bassist Roden and drummer Walter work effectively as a solid rhythm section that flows confidently all throughout the tempo and mood shifts. The other not so long epic are remarkable, as well: 'Discussed' exhibits some of the most somber passages in the album, while 'Run' follows in a similar vein than 'The Weight of the Wind', even a bit jazzier. Here you can also find some pleasant, brief interludes that allow the listener to focus on some simple ideas in between the demanding, more complex long tracks: 'Faded' is a drum and bass duet built somewhere between jazz and post- rock; 'Access' is a melancholy nocturne, in which the dominant piano chord progressions are beautifully complemented by a distant mellotron chorus; 'Naivety' returns to the jazz-meets-post-rock realm, this time with Thielen's guitar assuming the leading role. Overall balance: "Divorced Land" stands out as an excellent modern great prog album, since it's full of great musical ideas, amazingly delivered by Scythe members' energetic performances.

One of the few releases on the ultra-small Swiss prog label Galileo, this Alemanic Swiss standard prog quartet (with guest flautist Verena) develop a cross between symphonic modern prog with more obscure influences sometimes towards neo-prog. But all in all, they tend to stay very conventional reminding you of Simon Says (for the Nordic melancholy), Pendragon or IQ. Not really my cup of tea but in the genre I heard many albums that were insufferably boring and uninventive. Little of that here, although I would not consider this an incredible album or a resounding success, but we have here one of the better albums of the genre with three track lengths under two minutes, but also two tracks around the quarter hour length and three others ranging from 7 to 9 minutes. Nothing groundbreaking or even slightly original , but it can be pleasant. Anybody up for a trade?

I became aware of this band when reviewing the German band T and noticed the leader of that Neo-Prog band was also involved in this other band called SCYTHE. That T record I reviewed was called "Naive" and I gave it 2 stars. No I wasn't impressed at all.This is better but I have had difficulty enjoying a lot of it.There is a definite Neo flavour to this one as well.

"Outro-A Striving After Wind" opens with laid back piano then relaxed guitar follows then synths as the sound builds. It settles back then picks back up. "Am I Really Here" has a lot of tempo and mood shifts throughout.Vocals 1 1/2 minutes in as it settles.The loud outbursts after 3 minutes are annoying.This continues a minute later as well. "Faded" is a short piece with the percussion and bass standing out. "One Stop Further" is kind of spacey as reserved vocals join in. It kicks in after 2 1/2 minutes.This is better.The vocals return unfortunately.The synths are hard to digest as well 6 minutes in. I do like the section before 10 minutes though which will come and go.

"The Weight Of The Wind" has these fast paced vocals and pulsating organ. Like a mix of GENTLE GIANT and GENESIS actually. "Access" is a short piano / drum piece with atmosphere. "Discussed" opens with synths as drums then vocals join in. Guitar and pulsating keyboards after 4 minutes. "Naivety" features mellow sounds that pulsate. "Run" and the next track are the only songs I really like. Reserved vocals and piano early but it does pick up quickly.The drums are intricate yet very active. It's intense after 4 minutes then it settles again before kicking in again. "Denied" has a strong intro with piano. Guitar then comes to the fore after a minute. Synths then lead as organ joins in.This is good. Pulsating organ 6 minutes in bringing GENESIS to mind. Piano melodies around 8 minutes then it turns heavier.The song continues to evolve. I like it !

The album ends well but that just makes it a solid 3 stars. A tough one to recommend really.