EXPECTATIONS

This is NEW SUN's third studio album and it sounds more polished than the first two releases. I don't think it measures up to the first two though, but that's probably more my tastes than anything else.This is still a good record. "Mammoth" is a great way to start, as this is my favourite track. It opens with dark guitar sounds as it slowly developes.There is some riffing 2 minutes in and were really cooking now.Vocals come in as we get a contrast between light and heavy passages.We get a RUSH-like section before it turns atmospheric like the intro. It ends with the guitar crying out as were smoking again. "Cause & Effect II" features guitar, violin, drums and gentle vocals.Passionate vocals take over in an uplifting section.We are treated to some nice guitar work 4 minutes in. "Land Of Not So" reminds me of ECHOLYN for some reason.This is a fairly powerful tune.Some screaming guitar melodies 4 minutes in.The vocals are almost mono toned until he screams out. "Expectations" is divided into 7 parts and is the longest song at 10 minutes. Acoustic guitar to open with reserved vocals.The song becomes an uptempo tune driven by throbbing bass lines, as the lead guitar fires off several rounds.This is a great section. We then get a spacey passage with lots of atmosphere. Acoustic and electric guitar with vocals to end it."Time, And No Words With You" features acoustic guitar melodies throughout. "No Mas Uvas" opens with a man talking before he is cut off by heavy guitar. It turns into a RUSH-like melody with some great bass.This is my second favourite song. "Do You Wish To Know" features drifting vocals and a spacey soundscape. "Expectations Reprise" is really the first minute of the "Expectations" song. As I said this is a good record.I would probably suggest you start with their first album though.

3 years later in spring of 2001 New Sun comes with third album named Expectations. Well my expectations were that this release to be as good as previous one. Still, ok maybe more mature and little polished then previous two works, Expectations offers some good spacey heavy prog arrangements. No big diffrences between this one and Affects in overall sound, but pieces like opening track Mammoth, the title track . Expectations who is by far the best piece of the album and among the best they ever done, excellent Rush like guitar passages and heavy drumming with some complex moves and twists. The atmosphere is in parts more relaxed and without that forced moments that appear on Affects, Heavy prog played with balls and with heart, the problem is that this band is little known and for sure needs far more attention even is not among the top bands of the genre. Decent is the word to describe this album and this band in general. 3 stars again.

This is an extremely varied album, and while New Sun will be viewed as many as being 'progressive', they are much more about providing strong songs than conforming to any particular genre. The biggest thing to come out the album is a feeling of space, some of which is due to the sometimes lengthy gaps between tracks, but also to the laid back feel to many of the songs.

It is music that is there to be listened to and enjoyed, but the guys feel no need to thrust it down your throat. While much more will be gained from sitting and listening to it quietly, this album also does very well from being played as background music.

The firs few times I played this I did so while doing something else, but found that songs that "Reflections", with strong vocal and lyrics but minimal backing always had a way of grabbing attention. Then the next song is much more rock based so that the listener is never quite sure what to expect next. No lyrics in the booklet but they are obtainable from the web site which is www.new-sun.com. An interesting album.

Originally appeared in Feedback #62, May 01