INVISABLE FOREST

PIKE 148 - INVISABLE FOREST is the 47th album released by BUCKETHEAD in 2015. Once again the chicken lover conjures up an album hovering near the thirty minute mark at 29:14 and handles all instrument duties. This one has six tracks each titled "Step" followed by a number: 1-6.

This album is quite different than the last. "Step 1" starts out with a fade-in of a drone kind of synthesized sound, then a progressive arpeggio on a guitar enters. Further on after establishing itself, a Pink Floydian space solo gently unfolds itself into the musical arena. The tempo is mid-range and it really does more like a Pink Floyd track than a BUCKETHEAD piece. A decent job but not quite to the Floyd's level of perfection.

As with the other PIKES that i've heard so far that have all the tracks named the same with numbers, all of them run together to create a seamless flow of music. While the tracks run together they do change up the melody a little as they change into the next. By the time we get to "Step 2" it reminds me a lot of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" without the behemoth production and super catchy guitar line. This sounds like a cheap cover band unfortunately.

Eventually the Pink Floyd sound dissipates slowly and it becomes one of those slow ethereal albums that reminds me more of older BUCKETHEAD albums which happen to be my least favorite kinds! However fear not because the Pink Floyd inspiration comes back complete with some alt-country feel to it as well with some slide action! Well, this isn't my favorite album either but at least this one isn't irritating. It is actually not a bad album to hear in the background but certainly not an outstanding one that demands full attention. Overall not bad but absolutely nothing here original.