BEYOND REALITY

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Oh, fine. Two words, just for case I won't be able to write more: "Don't know". Or another two: "Confusing & great". For few bucks, you get roughly 67 minutes of probably best, or one of the best symphonic things from this year. 4 long songs, two short. Strong melodic element. And this cover, I was always fan of this Dalí picture (after all, he died just month before I was born) and this building on the edge of reality (for every sensitive album I create my own story, this one is on border of reality and dream world, with clocks blending, skies twisting and building serving as one solid point in the mouth of madness. Nice madness.

"Daydreamer's Nightmare" is, except playful name (really creative name) offers long guitar solos which, and that is important, we maybe got here before. But their melody is something so new, so original, that it became without hesitation to status of my favourite record. Big part of this illusion (because it's easy to have average, 3 album, then it takes little more effort to put it to 4 star position, but still, hundreds of album deserves this rating in my mind. But masterpiece, oh even something with (read bellow line) is hard to find and also rate with clear conscience. When you can enjoy every tiny little bit of track, there's either something wrong with you, or great about album. I rather chose second choice and explain it, because consequences of first thing would be far reaching. After all, it's all about words, as this music is about sounds, instruments, vocals, and melody. Oh, perfect choice of cover art, when you combine it with this track, one like me with big imagination will see things. In fact, this song offers a lot of material for your brain to process, evaluate and throw in result. For example normal way is to have one strong theme in song, repeat it few times and between it give weaker parts. Don't expect it to be here, because there is one strong part interchanged for another. In fact, I haven't so good feeling and wasn't so strong in my decision to give 5 stars even when rating classic albums from 70s which I normally admire the most. Not talking that "Time Will Tell" is even longer and starts completely different, uses different things, themes, techniques of getting attention.

5(+) for many things, like bringing fresh winds to symphonic prog sails, having my jaw fell down after hearing this, great vocals (not similar to any I know by far) and feeling of something perfect.

Mangrove is proving itself as a mainstay on the celebrated and vivacious Dutch prog scene, their new release hot on the heels of upcoming releases from fellow countrymen Leap Day and a third chapter for Knight Area. Allegedly a long awaited Odyssice is in the cards, being recorded as we write. So thinks are proggy in Holland and these dedicated musicians feel no difficulty in pursuing their musical quest, diving even deeper into the lush, extended symphonics that characterize their sound. "Beyond Reality" simply is the extension of "Facing the Sunset" with a resolute addiction to epic pieces, in the 13 to 20 minute range, with colossal sweeps and elongated instrumental passages in a classic thematic album, well within the sanctified tradition. "Daydreamer's Nightmare" explains their methodology succinctly, with endless variations on a central premise, occasional pompous grandeur that is most welcome for being above all, astute, highlighted by Hackett-toned guitar swirls from Roland van der Horst, as well as Chris Jonker's sinuous keyboard acrobatics. The whopping 18 minute + "Time Will Tell" is more upbeat, predictable laying the ground for the "story" , a romping digression that can seem a tad simplistic but a sense of balance is what makes this album tick. A sultry electric piano and a friendly jangling guitar gives this a breezy, tropical feel (see what Aruba does to you!), a rarely attempted style that molds perfectly here, especially when the synthesizers go galactic. A huge van der Horst foray leaves no stone unturned, scouring the horizon with Machiavellian insistence. The middle section has a Floyd feel to die for, a gentle binary lilt with its deliberate slide guitar, droning keys and bluesy atmospherics , completely priceless (if you're going to do PF, do it well, it ain't that complicated !), you would swear being on the Moon wishing you were here! (playing with your words again!). The Camel-like development is first-rate, getting more powerful and hence, less influenced, even though the long synth attack is pure Bardens. The last few minutes are verging on hysteria, mellotron blaring defiantly, a totally classic Genesis moment. Yes, they wear their revered mentors on their habile cuffs without any reservation and open, honest respect. The righteous "Love and Beyond" is perhaps close to classic Styx balladry (in a good sense) but when you have such a glorious melody to play with, how can you not be impressed. A romantic little ditty well positioned as an interlude. The nearly 7 minute "Reality Fades" is where these guys really get the picture, a haunting, faraway church bell tolls the melancholy until the magnificent van der Horst takes over the Rover and ushers in a bold guitar statement that is pure ear candy, some sprightly bass runs from Peter Drost and depth charge drumming from Joost Hagenmeijer and the deed is done. The title track kicks off with an elegant piano etude, an imperial guitar segment that heightens the tempo and the urgency becomes obedient to the cause, a blooming piece of symphonic prog that is ruined only slightly by forced vocals that tragically fail (strange, the voice is pretty good throughout though) . The upward spiraling symphonic vortex is splendid until the voice gets in the mix. Of well! Small blip! "Voyager" redeems the temporary confusion with a ripping "Cold as Ice" by Foreigner riff, followed by some good old fashioned "music muscle" flexing. Pretty pleasant finale that kept me content all the way through. I cannot anoint this with perfection because it isn't close to Nirvana. They are getting there but this is only a slight improvement on "Sunset". When they progress into denser theatrics and cut out the occasional "manque de jugement" (lack of?), they will be a force to bow down to. 4 eternal mirrors

Well, that was a close call you might say. After listening to this album about 5 times it left me more and more underwhelmed and I was about to give it a three star rating. I couldn't believe it really but to understand that I should explain my personal little history with Mangrove.

Their debut Touch Wood was my second experience with the band because I first got acquainted with Facing the Sunset. This second album made me fall for them completely because this successor was a more than excellent work. Touch Wood however showed that Mangrove had made an obvious improvement with FtS. Touch Wood was a nice album with several very nice moments already revealing great class. This class came out with the successor and then it's understandable you expect at least conformation with the third release.

And there we have the problem, the inevitable trap one falls into every time again: the high expectations, so high probably that it's almost impossible to live up to. And that's what's going on here with me. I expected a masterpiece because I know this excellent band is capable of that. After first listening I heard some very nice things and thought: well, it could be there. But next few attempts left me underwhelmed like I said because I also heard the flaws all over sudden like an unoriginal and almost cheesy concept. I mean, come on guys, lines like "A face beyond reality, how I'd like to change your mind". This is such an obvious theme that has been done a hundred times before. This is really disappointing. Overlooking all the band has done I think it's safe to say their instrumental compositional and executional performance is their great strength and is the reason why I love the music so much. But let's face it, the lyrics and the vocal efforts are truly the Achilles heel of the band and cause my relatively low ratings for a band with such enormous potential. This potential also shines through clearly on this latest but in my opinion not as brightly as on Facing the Sunset which was close to a masterpiece to me.

Beyond Reality isn't I'm afraid but I have to be fair and I have to admit this album has some great moments too. The epics are a mix of the disappointing lyrical and vocal performance and huge instrumental parts that again gives the shivers down the spine as Mangrove did before. It's the reason I will always pay them the respect they deserve. After a last thorough listening I can only conclude this is way too good for a three star rating so I can only think of one justified conclusion: four stars. Beyond Reality is a slight step back compared to the predecessor as I already mentioned. Nevertheless the build up of the album is carefully worked out and deserves a compliment (including a magnificent grand finale in the second half of last track Voyager). Next time an interesting concept (lyrically) and we'll probably could welcome a masterpiece I'm sure they are capable of. A well meant hint from me: minimize the vocals and maximize the instrumentals.