APATHEIA

Actually a bit of a disappointment. While their debut album promised a lot of new ideas, even it felt somehow undeveloped (but this doesn't matter, as these ideas were there, the album was very enjoyable and generous soul like me could overlook such minor problems like unpolished sound). Second album however walks in a path of simpler sound. Mainstream reviewers are pleased, band is sure to get more popular because of this album, but I am not glad for this new direction. If it was just old style all over again with some new ideas, it would be fine. But this album got so very close to pop-rock. Don't get fooled by this statement, the band always danced with the devil (actually it's not devil, as it is not a bad thing), but this step in a bad direction, but only for me, not for the band (popularity, career).

3(-), it's a average album (as of this site) and a bit above average (of everything else).

Violoncello dominated, mostly acoustic, modern Prog from Czech Republic. It's hard to make such music in my country these days, when most of the people are simply happy with more dull forms of Rock music without much elements that enrich it and makes it interesting. Fortunately, there are still loyal fans of Prog.

Most of Apatheia's eponymous album material is quite consistent in musical themes (songs sounds quite alike, more like concept stuff, each with its own variation of "source" than sole tracks). Words are in English, so this band has stronger chance to approach foreign audience. Themes of lyrics are usually poetic and dreamy, little bit philosophical, as far as I can understand.

That's good and I wish the band a lot of luck with accomplishing that, but what they can bring upon us actually on this album ? Music is on optimistic, pleasant - as I said, main instrument, (maybe because it's the most unusual), is this string instrument that helps to create very mellow harmonies. Maybe this is out of reality statement, but it reminds me "real-life version" of mellotron, I find these two instruments quite alike.

As I'm thinking about it, this music reminds me Gazpacho's album Night, there are similarities in impression it makes and I think there is flavour of Post-Rock (string - calm - part), but they're not afraid to come to more Heavy sounds at times. Recent addition of band Resistor, also to Crossover Prog can be seen as influence too (at least by me, who know their latest album).

4(+), great Czech new Prog, exactly as dark as I like.