ESTHETIC PALE

Musically Esthetic Pale followed a similar vein as on their debut, a melodic Neo/Symphonic Prog, which contained enough twists and turns to satisfy a prog fan.There are seven new pieces in this album, left aside the short title-track and the rest of the fresh numbers are seven minutes or longer, characterized by their elaborate arrangements, nostalgic Prog influences, symphonic keyboards and atmospheric breaks.With two female vocalists on board the band resembles to acts such as MAGENTA and SOLSTICE, the music is well-crafted with interesting themes and a good sense of changing moods, mostly dramatic instrumentals, 80's Neo Prog sharp keyboard workouts and even some grandiose intros and outros.I often get an early COLLAGE vibe listening to this album, which balances nicely between keyboard-based Prog and more symphonic-oriented inspirations.Some acoustic lines and ethereal lyricism in the vein of MOSTLY AUTUMN and KARNATAKA are still present, the band would never escape from such kind of comparisons, but the musicianship ranges from decent to beautiful, blending intricate, instrumental twists with melancholic ideas and melodic underlines.The lengthy tracks are equal regarding their value, some are more laid-back, others are more dynamic with some stunning guitar and keyboard moves, but all of them are composed with passion and talent.

Quite overlooked band.''Hope'' contains nothing less than what you will find in a very good Neo/Symphonic Prog album, and that is demanding music, memorable melodies ans semi-symphonic passages in tight and convincing arrangements, supported by a good production.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.

This is actually a very decent production with a nice sound overall, showing a band performing some sort of elaborate Progressive Rock with emphasis on atmosphere and melody, not unlike the path taken by MAGENTA, SOLSTICE or MOSTLY AUTUMN.The compositions are mostly well-written, though far from trully original, with plenty of changing climates and a duo of female singers having crystalline voices and a certain Folk vibe on their vocal tunes.Keyboard and guitar work are both fine with series of soft interplays, great grooves, light symphonic soundscapes and a decent amount of energy.There is also a decent dose of acoustic-driven passages with an even deeper Folk atmosphere throughout along with dreamy female vocal lines, while Esthetic Pale seem to keep a fine balance between melodic and more intricate musicianship.Of course not all tracks stand at the same level with a few being not particularly conveincing, but the final feeling is definitely positive.

Melodic Progressive Rock with touches of Neo Prog, Folk Rock and calm Symphonic Rock is the proposal of Esthetic Pale on this rare-to-find album and if you come by a copy and/or you are a fan of female-fronted modern prog bands, ''Tales From An Ancient Realm'' deserves a place in your collection.Warmly recommended.