ANNOT RHÜL

One word best to describe this music is *intense*. If it was a movie, there would be tags such as adventure, fantasy, horror, scifi, nailbiter, etc. Literary sources of inspiration seem to be early speculative fiction writers, e.g. Jules Verne and H.P. lovecraft to whom some of the track subtitles refer. Vocal parts are scattered here and there in the album which is oriented to keyboard-heavy instrumental Psych/Space Rock. In my mind the best musical comparison would be ELOY at their best Space Rock era (albums such as Ocean), and at least ideologically perhaps Italy's GOBLIN who made music to horror flicks, but one could also think of a combination of vintage Heavy of say BLACK SABBATH and the Saucerful of Secrets -era PINK FLOYD, produced with perfectionism by ALAN PARSONS. Actually the last mentioned association came to me from a section that featured a kantele-like sound -> 'The Fall of the House of Usher' from APP's Poe-inspired debut. But anyway the production here is superb; Tonna and his wide cast of guest musicians and vocalists have created a full and - sorry to repeat myself - intense soundscape that avoids becoming shapeless mess. Of the instruments one must especially mention Mellotron [samples], Hammond and Mini-Moog, and Gretsch Lapsteel played by Svern-Arne Skarvik.

So, with all that praiseworthy characteristics of this album, the high rates are definitely justified. I was momentarily thinking of a five-star rating myself. But there's the negative side to it too. In the end, the music is a bit samey throughout the 48 minutes, both in composition and in execution. some less *intense* sections here and there, bringing in more delicate nuances, would have done magic to the whole. But these are purely matters of taste, the never-ending dilemma of artistic unity vs. versatility. If my attempt above to describe this music sounds very promising to you, you've got my full recommendation. 3½ stars rounded upwards.

"Leviathan Suite" is the almost 14 minute opener and it will go down as one of my favourite songs from 2014. A real cool sounding intro here as we get this deep and dark atmosphere with various sparse sounds coming and going. It's early FLOYD-like and we get some guitar 2 1/2 minutes in followed by drums and a full sound, vocals follow. A calm with the sound of waves 4 1/2 minutes in as reserved vocals join in reminding me of FRUITCAKE. Female vocals follow in this spacey section as they take turns with the male vocals until 7 minutes in when mellotron and a spacey sound take over. Just gorgeous 9 minutes in and to hear this vintage sound in 2015 is incredible. It's building after 10 minutes until they are rocking out before 11 minutes. Nice. Vocals and that earlier theme is back until we get an almost SABBATH-like rhythm with organ after 12 1/2 minutes. It's spacey late to end it.

"The Colour Out Of Space" has this drum driven intro as we have some energy here. I like the background synths. It settles back some after 2 minutes as it becomes more spacey. More mellotron a minute later then it starts to build. Lots of synths and mellotron here. It picks up more after 5 minutes as the energy from earlier returns. "Surya" has a very spacey intro and it sounds so good. It's building. Vocals after 2 minutes both male and female as it calms right down. It turns instrumental again with some excellent drumming to the end. "Distant Star" has a drum intro as the bass, keys and synths join in. Sounds like a spoken word transmission from space but it's brief. A catchy mid- paced tune that turns spacey late to end it.

"The Mountains Of Madness" is heavier and darker than anything on here really to start but it settles some and the vocals join in. An instrumental break with mellotron and more after 2 1/2 minutes. Check out the mellotron after 4 1/2 minutes with those spacey winds. I don't think i've heard this combination before but I love it. Vocals are back 5 minutes in and some good guitar and organ follow before spacey winds end it. "R'Lyeh" opens with what sounds like female vocal melodies and a music box. Spacey synths join in before it kicks into gear after 1 1/2 minutes with drums and more. It's heavier a minute later and this lasts for about a minute then we get a calm with mellotron, keys and more. Vocal melodies 5 minutes in and this continues to almost 7 minutes when it turns intense with drums and guitar as the mellotron storms in. It's getting heavier then we get a calm with lots of atmosphere to end it.

What a great album this is, and the fact that we are getting such amazing Psychedelic music in 2014 makes me very happy.

The album kicks off with "Leviathan Suite", whose 14 minutes are divided in 7 parts that are truly visual, I mean, while listening to it, it is easy to imagine things and see that sea monster and what it causes to the sailors, it is like being on a musical novel full of changes and emotions. The first minutes are totally spacey, so a nice journey is about to begin. Later vocals appear, keyboards, drums and strings produce a soft psychedelic sound; vocals are mainly made but then female appear putting a sweet sound, which is wonderfully accompanied by mellotron as background. This is a great progressive rock track, an example of a modern and well-crafted epic, a proof that prog rock is alive and kicking asses. After 7 minutes the music slows down, a new part begins, producing uncertainty and even tension. Later, keyboards take a main role, they remind me a bit of Arjen Lucassen's projects. The music's intensity is increasing little by little, and after ten minutes we are delighted with a powerful passage where keys and strings offer a darker atmosphere. At minute 12 the music makes another change, it becomes faster and more psychedelic; here the names of Eloy or Uriah Heep came to my mind. Excellent opener track!

"The Colour Out of Space" starts with a rock oriented guitar and bass, then drums join and together create a heavy rock / spacey atmosphere that combines elements from old school with some of the new school of space rock, I mean, besides the names of the bands I mentioned above, in moments I remembered Hidria Spacefolk or Wobbler. This is a purely instrumental track, like a transition from planet to planet. "Surya" is an awesome short track full of nuances and atmospheres. I love the first minute where harpsichord opens the gates to a somber, horror-film-like atmosphere. After a minute it changes, guitar takes now leadership but just for some seconds, because later both male and female vocals appear and together produce a spiritual and cosmic sound.

"Distant Star" starts with drums, seconds later bass joins and keyboards create new atmospheres, so the music flows and produces a nice spacey track which is good, but I think it is the weakest part of the album. Tonna's love for dark and suspense literature is evident here, most his love for H.P. Lovecraft, which is why the album continues with a wonderful track entitled "The Mountains of Madness". It has a bombastic start with keyboards, guitars and drums, but later it slows down a little bit when male vocals enter. I think this track sums up what we have been listening to, because of the dark and spacey atmosphere and of course the vocals. Again, the music has some 70s reminiscences but I could say it sounds really modern, which is something Annot Rhül has done very well.

The final track is the five-part "R'Lyeh", one of Lovecraft's lost cities. It is an amazing composition where a vast blend of sounds, textures and nuances are offered. It starts softly with a musical box; it is like a lullaby that will end soon, because when mellotron enters, a scary feeling begins. After a minute and a half drums and other instruments join so a new structure is being built, a new journey begins through this hidden city. Then a transition is made, a terror-like sound prevails, reminding me a bit of Goblin or Morte Macabre, and though it slows down again, those sensations are kept in our ears and souls, which means the music has given us a great dose of experiential moments. After 7 minutes, a chaotic moment begins, drum and guitars put a nervous and tense sound that with the seconds is becoming heavier, so it is like (once again) being in a terror novel and running and escaping for life. A great combination of symphonic and spacey prog can be perceived here.

What an excellent album from Annot Rhül, a great surprise and discover to my musical tastes. I have enjoyed it each and every single time I've listened to it, and I would like to recommend it to you, if you are into space rock with a symphonic sound inspired by literature.

Enjoy it!

The first six songs are from the Ep "Lost In The Woods" and these tracks were inspired by Horror movies. First up is "Lost In The Woods" which opens with organ and synths before the mellotron rolls in.The atmosphere here is thick. Vocals after 1 1/2 minutes and when they stop it turns very spacey and then it picks up. Amazing track. "Ghost Children" has a laid back and dreamy soundscape as vocals join in. Female vocals help out too. A calm before 3 minutes then it builds. "Deadly Nightshade" is a mellotron storm from start to finish. "Roses Blue" is a Joni Mitchell track taken from her album "Clouds".This sounds very different from the original with the floating organ, mellotron and male vocals. Love it ! "Sailing On The River Styx" is a short but loud soundscape. Very epic and dramatic "The Dark Lord" ends the EP in style. This one rocks as we get some heaviness and aggressive vocals. Great track.

The last ten tunes are from the debut album. "Mirage' is a breath-taking soundscape of powerful atmosphere as sounds pulse and float. "Evergreen Forest" opens with nature sounds followed by a simple melody then mellotron. The atmosphere leaves 1 1/2 minutes in as it turns FLOYD-like but not for long. When it returns it sounds gorgeous. "Planes Or Time Machines" builds as drums pound. Organ comes in too. It's heavier before a minute. "Light" is a relaxed Psychedelic haze. "Carlos' Brothers" opens with drums, guitar and bass. An Eastern vibe comes in before a minute. The guitar then solos. Nice. "Sans Souci" opens with drums and keyboards. Haunting voices and sounds end it. "King Arthur" has a sixties Psyche feel to it. A Spanish flavour too. "Knife Valley" kicks in after a minute with an uptempo rhythm. Great sound. "The Haunted Mansion" opens with acoustic guitar and atmosphere. The sound gets fuller. Mellotron 2 minutes in. "Aurora Borealis" sounds like it was done by an Electronic band. Very spacey with lots of Moog. Cool tune. "Stung By A Cactus" is the closing number and it has a sixties Psyche feel to it much like "King Arthur" only this one has trombone in it.

Highly recommended to all you Psychedelic fans out there. Fantastic record !