MAP OF THE UNIVERSE

Interesting album...if there ever was a balance between THE CLASH style punk rock music and progressive rock, well here it is. I actually used this line of comparison half a dozen times, this one is really taking the cake. Why? It indeed sounds like 'London Calling' at the moments, there are more or less direct quotations in bass lines, chords, even lyrics. If you notice that our brainchild KiNo is actually born in the same hospital where Joe Strummer was born, then it couldn't really be a coincidence.

As far as the prog aspect of the music goes, it's omnipresent - if not too impressive - and handcrafted into the new wave-y rolling machine on the surface. Synth bleeps, progressive textures (I like that phrase and I'm using it a lot at present), vocal choirs...and overall flow of a concept album, or at lest a thematic one, and nicely wrapped at the edges at that. Some passages, as well as lyrical passages are repeating themselves through the album. Overall, very nice.

My complaint is actually not uncommon: the album is overbearing a bit, perhaps a bit too long for a more or less linear music, so it kind of drags towards the end. There's not a single breathtaking moment, but on the other hand there's not a single BAD moment neither. Which makes this unit pretty decent. And highly recommended to people who like both THE CLASH and progressive rock!

Sophisto-pop

I have to confess that I committed the cardinal sin of mistakenly assuming this album to be by a different band. This is not in fact the follow up to the fine 2005 album "Picture" by the UK prog supergroup Kino. This is actually the sole release by Turkish born, USA resident KiNo (note the alternating case).

KiNo plays all the instruments on the album himself with the exception of the rhythm section and guest horns. The music is light in nature, KiNo's high vocals having a deceptively 60's pop flavour. It is though the eclectic nature of the melodies which distinguish the album. Those melodies can at times seem rather infectious, but their constant metamorphosis means that they are difficult to pin down.

The tracks are all short, the longest running to just over 5 minutes. Often, such as on "Won't do" there are overtones of the new wave sounds which would have been developing during the artist's formative years. Another possible influence is the sophisto-pop of bands such as 10cc.

While the styles and sounds are diverse, the album is largely single paced, largely devoid of full on rock songs or softer ballads. This can tend to result in a one dimensional feel, despite the aforementioned diversity. Overall though, a fine first album which shows considerable promise.