TIMANFAYA

Compelling production from this German solo artist, who's crafted a highly intriguing album with the help from a multitude of musical friends here.

The compositions are mostly keyboard driven, with the piano as a central melodic element in carefully crafted multilayered arrangements; where organ, floating synths and multiple keyboard layers all contribute to a greater or lesser extent to flesh out a detailed, nuanced sound rich in textures and with a good amount of tension. Contrasting elements are utilized in a skilled manner; focusing on minor details rather than the big contradicting sounds. Drawn out guitar chords and acoustic guitar licks add even more details and nuances to the performances, and the drums are used in at times rather creative and innovative fashion to serve some rather unique sonic explorations.

In style we're talking a variety of Neo progressive rock, with added elements from vintage progressive rock as well as new age; lush and mellow but often majestic and rich in atmosphere at the same time; and rather energetic on a few occasions. Well worth checking out by fans of instrumental music with symphonic progressive rock as the main musical foundation.

OK, that's not exactly the look of a prog artist that you would expect, but it's someone producing surprisingly interesting music. Even not as much as I expected. There are layers in all of songs presented here and so, they're structured, completely with graduating composition, climax and aftermath that follows. However, there's something bad and instead of other albums I've reviewed today (and didn't like certain elements and was able to name them), I'm not able to describe it here. It should be interesting, it's not typical neo, but should be shouting on each of my prog senses and saying that this is very good record, but instead, I find myself without a word (I'm sometimes talking to myself, or others, or animals, trees, you know the stuff), not pleased, nor angry. Just with empty feelings

3(+), I suppose will be appropriate to describe my feelings + prog value I see in this record + how interesting this music is. Not bad, not good, average.