Æ SENSE OF LIFE

Swiss band TICKET TO THE MOON was formed back in 2003, with a firm line-up stabilizing in 2007. They are an active live band as well as recording artists, and so far they have two albums to their name. "Ae Sense of Life" is the most recent of those, and was self-released in 2016.

Those fond of concept albums of the kind where the entire album plays out as one composition rather than as a collection of songs should find many interesting points to this second album by these Swiss proggers, and then especially those who tend to fancy a band that, roughly speaking, moves back and forth between later day Floydian landscapes and territories closer to progressive metal of the Dream Theater variety. The vocals are something of an acquired taste however, so those who know they are sensible to the quality of the lead vocals might approach this one with some caution. But apart from that aspect this is a fine album within this subset of the progressive rock genre.

Ticket to the Moon are from Basel, Switzerland, and were formed in 2003 by Daniel Gosteli (drums, vocals, percussion) and Andrea Portapia (guitars, vocals). The band went through several changes until Guillaume Carbonneau (bass) and Matthias Zwick (keyboards) joined in 2007, and this was the line-up that delivered 'Dilemma On Earth' in 2012. 'Ae Sense of Life' is their second album, self- released in 2015. Their PR company describes their sound is a blend of atmospheric-rock with strong metal influences, producing modern, melodic and powerful progressive music influenced by the likes of Enchant, Ayreon and Dream Theater.

They may well indeed have been influenced by them, but that doesn't mean that they are remotely in the same league as any of the above. Musically this doesn't gel as it should, and jars as it moves from one area to another as there is a real lack of continuity. There are times when they capture an almost Meshuggah or System of a Down feeling to what they are doing, and in my mind that is the sort of style they should be concentrating on, as they definitely have talent in that area. But, the main thing against this album is the quality of the vocals, which simply aren't strong enough. If these guys are ever going to make serious inroads into the progressive scene then they need to undertake more work on the arrangements, and get themselves a decent singer.