SHANGRI-LA

This is a Swedish trio, rooted in 1979-1980, they made their debut CD in 2005 (as a four piece band) and now Brother Ape has released their second effort entitled Shangri-La.

The first piece New Shangri-La starts with beautiful acoustic guitar, then a fluent rhythm with a tight beat an sensitive guitar work that reminds me of neo-prog band IQ and Pendragon, worked out very tasteful and melodic. Before you could get the idea that this is just another fine but obviously IQ/Pendragon inspired band, Brother Ape surprised you with varied songs that sound very pleasant: from dreamy with wonderful acoustic guitar play in Umbrellas, Beams (including a strong electric guitar solo), Monasteries Of Meteora and A Reason To Wake (delicate piano) to powerful and bombastic in Lunatic Kingdom (harder-edged guitar riffs and flowing guitarplay) and Inside You (fiery and howling guitar licks). The track I'll Be Going starts in the vein of Eighties Rush but suddenly the atmosphere becomes mellow with a spacey synthesizer solo. In the instrumental Tweakhead the strong guitar work has echoes from Allan Holdsworth, another composition that prooves the fine compositional skills by Brother Ape. My highlight on this CD is the final song, a short one but very elaborate and varied: first twanging acoustic guitars and soaring keyboards, then a mid-Genesis like beautiful piece with a great keyboard and guitar sound and finally mellow acoustic guitars.

A wonderful album, full of harmony and melody and with lots of variation and pleasant climates!

Well produced album with a 70's vibe to it; it's obvious that these guys have listened to their fair share of bands like Genesis and Yes.

But still, they have managed to create an identity of their own, and with a seldom heard happy mood conveyed in their songs.

In other words, this isn't the album to get if you're heavily into the darker side of prog, or if melancholy moods is what you are looking for.

But if you like 70's sounding prog, or if you like positive and "happy" prog, this record is a must buy.

Since the release of their debut album singer Peter Dahlgren has left the band so composer Stefan Damicolas (guitars) has now taken on that role. The band is completed by Max Bergman (drums) and Gunnar Maxén (bass, keyboards, harmony vocals). Still very melodic the album has seen a movement in some ways more into the progressive field, and the change in singer has certainly meant that the band have lost the Styx element that was visible on the debut. Although the album is quite guitar oriented, the keyboards play an important part as does the bass playing ? this is because the bass sound is quite deep like Chris Squire but it is on a fretless bass which gives the sound quite a different tone.Since the release of their debut album singer Peter Dahlgren has left the band so composer Stefan Damicolas (guitars) has now taken on that role. The band is completed by Max Bergman (drums) and Gunnar Maxén (bass, keyboards, harmony vocals). Still very melodic the album has seen a movement in some ways more into the progressive field, and the change in singer has certainly meant that the band have lost the Styx element that was visible on the debut. Although the album is quite guitar oriented, the keyboards play an important part as does the bass playing ? this is because the bass sound is quite deep like Chris Squire but it is on a fretless bass which gives the sound quite a different tone.

This album does take a while to get into, just because there are different elements being used and I am not always sure that they are working as well as they could. The band are at their best when the guitars are rocking and the keyboards are riding right in behind, being driven on by the rhythm section. The vocals are still strong with loots of layered harmonies and the production (where the band have been assisted by Hansi Cross) is very strong. Highlight is probably "Lunatic Kingdom" where the vocals and music are spot on. I don't think that this is an essential prog album, but is one that should at least be heard.

Exactly at a time when Brother Ape were finding their way into the prog map with the first official release launched and a good contract with Progress Records, the band had to face the departure of Peter Dahlström, who quit for personal reasons.His bass and keyboard duties were entirely taken over by Gunnar Maxen and the lead vocals are delivered by Stefan Damicolas, heading for a second album.''Shangri-La'' was released in summer 2006, supported again by Progress Records.

The abscence of Dahlström fortunately had not a big impact on the band's inspiration, which continues to be a fantastic amalgam of vocal-based Art Rock, pastoral Symphonic Rock and powerful Fusion.The choice of the remaining trio was to offer short but very rich compositions with mind-blowing changes between sounds and styles, working extremely well with the presence of some lovely vocal harmonies.The album is full of clever compositions, ranging from energetic rockers with polyphonic arrangements in the vein of A.C.T., smooth symphonic soundscapes heavily influenced by 70's GENESIS and tremendous and viscious Fusion pieces with ALLAN HOLDSWORTH-like guitar work and big time keyboard exercises.What makes ''Shangri-La'' so unique though is that this demanding musicianship is presented with a strong sense of melody and a nice amount of accesibility to make all tracks fairly memorable.The fantastic guitar riffs, the jazzy interludes, the symphonic keyboards and the excellent vocal work, all combined result a work, where melody meets complexity in a beautiful way.

Another winner from Brother Ape.It is sad the group has not gained the fame it trully deserves but do yourself a favor and chase this magnificent release.Highly recommended for all fans of fascinating Art Rock.