VIOLET DISTRICT

Musically Violet District played a sincere, highly atmospheric Neo Prog with spacious touches, which was a basic element of the keyboard lines of many old Teutonic Prog groups.They sounded pretty dark throughout the album with odd but expressive vocals, intense MARILLION-esque acoustics and long, symphonic orchestrations along with some slight PINK FLOYD and CAMEL touches.Their true power came from the dual keyboard passages, which are delivered mostly in atmospheric and floating beams, unlike the tactics of similar-sounding groups, which was based mostly on flashy and bombastic runs.The album flows nicely with good STEVE ROTHERY-like guitar tones and a good lyrical background, avoiding the ultra-complex themes and sacrifice them in the name of a concept, which required a unique and detailed musical dressing.Moreover they did not excel on melodious themes, as they prefered to create lyrical atmospheres, spacious keyboard soundscapes and slow-paced instrumental parts, which is not a bad thing in my book and that's because they sounded pretty unique in their own way.The album offers also some sporadic references to vintage Prog with the occasional organ moves and symphonic parts, but the result is much closer to COLLAGE's ''Basnie'', which is a good reference point to have a taste of what they sounded like.

Unfortunately the later part of their history was full of line-up changes with Thomas Rueckermann replacing Brenninger shortly after the album's release, later Thomas Falkner joined the band in a 4-piece formation and in 1997 their last bassist was Robert Oschliess.The same year they disbanded with Wallner and Postl forming the Floyd-ian Art Rockers RPWL and Mischa Schleypen joining Blind Ego in 2006.

There is a CD issue out of the same album with an extra disc from a live in 1996, which contains a couple of unreleased tracks.Both issues are warmly recommended to all fans of atmospheric Neo Prog and to those who love concept works.

"Lustreless Fright" opens with someone changing stations on the radio then the music takes over with acoustic guitar and vocals. A beat follows then electric guitar. A guitar solo after 3 minutes. It picks up before 4 1/2 minutes and the synths roll in. It blends into "Ego (The Hidden One)" where vocals are added quickly in this short one minute piece. "Anguish Of A Scoundral" starts with guitar, synths and a beat. Great sound here.Vocals and a more powerful sound a minute in. Emotion right here as the contrasts continue. Love this song. It blends into "Hommage To The Irretrievably Lost" which builds with drums before settling back when the vocals arrive before 2 minutes. Huge bass lines 3 1/2 minutes in. Cool sound here. It turns fuller after 5 minutes then settles back again with more chunky bass.

"Assurance" is laid back with reserved vocals. It starts to pick up before 2 minutes without vocals.Vocals are back 5 1/2 minutes in. "Together We Fall" is a good instrumental that kicks in rather heavily with synths then guitar playing over top. Great tune. "Necessary Goodbyes" is mellow as the vocals join in. It starts to pick up at 1 1/2 minutes. It's heavier a minute later and I like the synths that follow. "Age Theme" sounds really good with that beat and atmosphere. "The Age" is very 80's sounding Neo-Prog.Yes it's fantastic ! It's catchy with vocals.We get funny sample after 2 minutes. "Down And Away" opens with the guitar soaring then it settles with vocals.The tempo picks up around 5 minutes but not for long as the guitar soars again. Great sound before 6 1/2 minutes. Soaring guitar again 8 minutes in then it turns spacey 9 1/2 minutes in to end it.

This will fit in well with my other Neo-Prog favs. Easily 4 stars.

And there are two unreleased (and long) songs which are really worth. Capilary Action (strange title) is very close to Pendragon. Great guitar, aerial keys and a bombastic finale. One of the (two) best songs from the band. Maybe not as emotional as Nick Barrett can be but still, this song is excellent and should please lots of fans from the neo-symphonic-prog genre; if I may use this term to describe their music.

The second unreleased song is the longest one available (almost thirteen minutes of which the two last ones are an encore clapping). This time, Principles Of Alternation is more Marillion oriented (especially with the guitar work sounding so much to the Rothery one). But there is an undeniable Pendragon flavour as well.

This song is still less polished than Capilary.. The different parts don't flow too well into each other but the whole is rather enjoyable.

The third last piece is here is dedicated to their best studio song. Down & Away. I'm just a bit disillusioned by this rendition. The studio track sounded better to my ears, but still the guitar moments here are such a marvellous gift from Karmheinz Wallner.

The original album was just average but I have to say that the addition of this live set, is rather enhancing the offering (even the poor Hommage To The Irretrievably Lost has been revisited rather well in this live version).

I have made a detailed review of the studio work in the appropriate entry. Feel free to have a look if you are ever willing to get some hints about it.

Three stars for this remastered and expanded version.

Same Floydian influences (Gilmour era), nice vocal melodies and strong instrumental parts are a pleasant combination and should ensure an enjoyable listening to some neo-prog lovers.

On the other hand, there are not too many songs to write home about. The band tries to combine spacey mood with pure neo-prog sounds (Assurance) and Karlheinz is performing some very good guitar breaks (like he will use to do in RPWL as well) but these are too scarce to make this offering a good album.

Some tracks above the general level ? Anguishes Of A Scoundrel with its fully Wright oriented keyboards and the short and melodic Together We Fall.

The worst one? No doubt : Hommage To The Irretrievably Lost. It should have remained lost.

There is one highlight on this album. The long (over twelve minutes) and closing number Down & Away. Fully Floydian and bombastic, it also features the best guitar work of this album. A very good song by all means.

My rating is five out of ten, but raising it to three stars would be exaggerated.

The opening track, "Lustreless Fright" proves to be a good track with slow to medium tempo music in ambient nuance. Keyboard and guitar play important roles to provide the style of music. The music also combines the elements of space psychedelic which remind me strongly to Pink Floyd. After a short bridge of "Ego" the band continues its journey with fourth track "Hommage to The Irretrievably lost" which maintains the previous segment style. The music seems to flow naturally from one to another with good guitar solo mixed thinly throughout the song. The key to this album is the way guitar and keyboard combine the sounds together and produce floating music style with good guitar work.

"Assurance" explores the virtuosity of Karlheinz Wallner in playing the acoustic guitar work. The vocal enters the music smoothly and the beats are in medium tempo. The interlude showcases guitar solo backed with floating keyboard work. The next track shows faster tempo with much dynamic music but still maintaining the long sustain keyboard sounds. "Necessary Goodbyes" is a good and melodic track featuring the guitar fills and nice vocal work in mellow style.

Overall, this is a good album for those who love neo progressive music with some spacey music. The similarity of this album is close to Pendragon, Pallas, IQ and in fact some elements of Ozric Tentacles but in its simplest form. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

The opening track, "Lustreless Fright" proves to be a good track with slow to medium tempo music in ambient nuance. Keyboard and guitar play important roles to provide the style of music. The music also combines the elements of space psychedelic which remind me strongly to Pink Floyd. After a short bridge of "Ego" the band continues its journey with fourth track "Hommage to The Irretrievably lost" which maintains the previous segment style. The music seems to flow naturally from one to another with good guitar solo mixed thinly throughout the song. The key to this album is the way guitar and keyboard combine the sounds together and produce floating music style with good guitar work.

"Assurance" explores the virtuosity of Karlheinz Wallner in playing the acoustic guitar work. The vocal enters the music smoothly and the beats are in medium tempo. The interlude showcases guitar solo backed with floating keyboard work. The next track shows faster tempo with much dynamic music but still maintaining the long sustain keyboard sounds. "Necessary Goodbyes" is a good and melodic track featuring the guitar fills and nice vocal work in mellow style.

Overall, this is a good album for those who love neo progressive music with some spacey music. The similarity of this album is close to Pendragon, Pallas, IQ and in fact some elements of Ozric Tentacles but in its simplest form. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

Forgetting the slight inflection in the voice, you could consider this band as a modern version of Kayak.

STRICTLY RECOMMANDED for fans of Marillion, Twelfth Night, IQ, Pendragon and Co. This album has the "magic touch" and a wonderful flow @ listining !!! No fillers , only killers.

The 2CD-remaster comes with a highly recommanded live concert on the 2nd CD containing 2 more brilliant tracks never released on a studio-album. "Capillary Action" and "Principles Of Alternation" are wonderful songs you won't miss !!! Normally studio-version are a MUST for the remastered version of "Terminal Breath" but unfortanetely they never find a way on the CD....what a pity !

For all fans: I found a 12:15 long studio-version of "Principles Of Alternation" on the CD "Progfever Vol. 1" see http://www.quixote-music.de/cds/progfever.htm for further details.

Finally, I was very sad about the group splitted up after this album. But some members rejoined to new group "RPWL" later, well worth to check out, even the style is not exactly the same anymore.

I give 5 stars for this - MUST HAVE - timeless essential master-piece.

Together We Fall, Anguishes Of A Scoundrel, Homage To The Irretrievably Lost and the epic closer Down And Away are among the better songs here but even they suffer from a poor choice of sounds, while a majority of cuts just remind me of bad 80s metal. Seriously there's one track here called The Age that's so much like lightweight 80s pop/rock, it's unbelievable.

I can't see why anybody would want to waste their time with these laughable fellows when there are so many better bands out there ... Europe and Bon Jovi for starters! Guitarist Karlheinz Wallner and bassist Chris Postl eventually resurfaced in RPWL, which is one reason people tend to investigate Violet District. I suggest they don't. Listening to this album I really felt like someone was trying to pull my leg ... except I never got the joke! ... 16% on the MPV scale