LITTLE ATLAS

Hollow, the latest album by Little Atlas, is another neo-prog piece showing a strong Genesis and Marillion influence. Nothing particularly special about that in concept - lots of bands try for a similar sound - but I think the band are trying to go for something a little bit more imaginative here. I say "I think" because, unfortunately, the album suffers a little from a rather poor mixing job; the instruments all tend to blend together, and whilst there's something to be said for trying out alternatives to the modern production aesthetic of having all the different instruments be clearly separated in the mix in this case the whole thing ends up sounding like a muddle; the vocals, for instance, are often indistinct because they get swallowed up in the mix. It's an interesting album but, to my ears, it could have been a lot better had more care been taken in the production department.

On Wanderlust Little Atlas offer the listener a textbook run-through of the neo-prog playbook without much in the way of surprises. It's a fun enough album if you are passionately devoted to this style, though at the same time I can't put my finger on anything which would really make me compelled to listen to Little Atlas as opposed to any other band ploughing this particular well-ploughed furrow. On the whole, I think if you are really passionately devoted to this style of album and want as many examples of the same thing as possible, you should go for it, but otherwise there's better examples of precisely this sort of thing to be had.

I can still remember the time I checked out lots of neobands at the same time listening to PA's streamtracks just to find out what were the better bands of those I didn't know yet. And this very band Little Atlas came out as one of the very best. And that's pretty surprising since I'm an "old school" neofan so with lots of guitar- and keyboardsolo's (like Pendragon and Clepsydra for instance) and I can tell you Little Atlas is nothing like that at all. It's even a boarderline neo case leaning towards eclectic prog. This was very notable on their successor Hollow, my first experience with this American band. Let's say Little Atlas is 70% neo and 30% eclectic prog, so slightly less accessible than most neoprog and a bit more profound.

I even feel Little Atlas has resemblance to Echolyn, another band that's leaning towards the eclectic prog subgenre. But on the other hand LA also has obvious neo characteristics like highly melodic instrumental contributions even though they are not really extended. In the end I like this style pretty much but I also believe this predecessor of Hollow is really the better album of the two and probably Wanderlust is the best of all four releases looking at the ratings. All songs on here are great and several even excellent.

So where I had almost a headache making up the rating for Hollow and decided for the three stars ultimately, this time the choice for the rating is not hard at all. This is a full blooded 4 star case and highly recommended for almost all progfans. Mainly the fans of Echolyn could have another fine discovery with Wanderlust (or Little Atlas in general).

Without a trace of doubt, the Nort-American band LITLLE ATLAS is one of the bands from the late 90's, which better get a balanced fusion to Classic and Neo school of progressive music. Showing a cleary influence by the monsters of prog of the 70's like YES, GENESIS, RUSH, etc... in addition to the new icons of neo-prog like SPOCK'S BEARD, IZZ, THE FLOWER KINGS, etc..., whitout plagiarize, the band makes a brilliant encounter to very bucolic themes guided by acoustic guitars (or eletric guitars without distortions) and piano, whit a fantastic heavy and intricate passages with great riffs and furious guitar solos and eletronic keyboards. In help to emphasize this drastic changes the band count with the iincredible and dramatic interpretation of Steve Katsikas on the vocals, which cross from the almost meditative and whispering to a appealing and agressive form. The highest points of "Wanderlust" are the tracks 1,2,4 and 6, however the other tracks are very recommendable. My rate is 5 stars !!!

Little Atlas' latest release Hollow is not exactly a hard album to get into. But to establish exactly how good it is is a lot harder, at least to me. The sound and style is in between neo prog and crossover in my opinion with a touch of eclectic prog (Paranoiac !). The style is quite unusual, it's most of all melodic but there are also dissonances detectable. They make the music a bit less accessible but like I said it's all in all not really hard to comprehend for an experienced progfan.

The songs are all in between 4 and 6 minutes with the exception of two out of the ten that are offered. So that's quite short for prog standards and it confirms in a way that this is not the usual neo prog which has longer compositions usually. On the other hand the songs are very compact so a lot is happening in most of them. The longest track is the second, called Silence and is the most interesting one to me. It starts calm and ambient but after three minutes the song gets to usual Little Atlas style, not too complicated that is. Because of the atmosphere it produces this is still the best song of the album in my opinion. Symbiosis is another great track.

For where the other songs are concerned: they are all of the same quality level, so pretty high but nothing truly exceptional I have to say. Final verdict is that it's a very good album just falling short for the excellence status. So I will round down to three (3,4).

Another great release fro this band, that i see is not gathering as many reviews as it deserves. The most compelling thing I have to say: as long as I start playing this album, it gives me so much pleasure from beginning to the end that, for me, it's the outcome of the CLASSICS - those so-good records that you always like, no matter what mood you're in a certain moment, and those that you don't need to convince yourself that the music on it is or must be good. Gatot wrote it's straight - yes, like, just as an example: Crime of the Century. All of the 10 songs are crafted in ways that appeal different strings in your ears, and brain (if you switch it :=)). Silence with that fantastic intro with sax, or the low-key piano undergoing in the great melodic Hiding before the final with guitar stelar pick-up. Stage rocks you until you reach Symbiosis for full fledge of emotions. The ethereal and light ballad iSpecial s really a perfect conclusion, for a work that also delight in the text level, writtena round different human mind aspects. Must have and must play on your stereo!

Here I like to pay tribute to this band, that composes and brilliantly execute music I like more: intricate and delicate, long songs with melodic passages, in between more varied tempos and rythms, not too easy to get (so that you never get bored to listen the next time), not too abstruse (so that you don't have to convince yourself that you like it...). WANDERLUST has been my introduction to LITTLE ATLAS, that led me to buy SURFACE SERENE (very goodand enjoyable, but less mature yet) and the latest HOLLOW (on the highest level of WANDERLUST). This is a CD that I listen repeatedly, when I want to make a break with the latest purchases, maybe for benchmarking? Absolute masterpiece? For the pleasure that gives in listening (and from first to last song), it couldn't be better. So, 5 stars are not excessive!

The second album from Little Atlas Surface Serene is a bit of a mixed affair. When you start your album with a riff that sounds like Nirvana´s Smells like Teen Spirit it´s bound to divide the waters in a prog world. Sometimes that is a good thing and a sign that the band moves some boundaries with their music. In the case of Little Atlas it´s just a mix of genres that will please some and annoy others. Personally I´m both pleased and a little annoyed.

The good things about Surface......is that the technical level of the musicians are high. There are some really great moments in each song and I especially enjoy the synth runs that appear in some of the songs. The little instrumental parts that Little Atlas play throughout the album are really great. It´s those parts that makes their music progressive and to some extent exciting.

The other side of their music is something I am not too fond of. It´s the American College rock side. Maybe it´s a bit unfair to compare Little Atlas with this hidious genre, but there are definitely elements, and they really get me down. Lead singer Steve Katsikas is not my cup of tea either. Again I associate him with American Collage rock. The sound on Surface Serene isn´t too good either, it´s like the balance in the mix is wrong.

Well the annoying things aside it´s an OK album and I will rate it a big 2 stars. Personally I want listen to this very much, but the quality in the compositions are allright and I´m sure that this album will have an audience somewhere.

It's quite original prog music

Having heard the previous two albums of Little Atlas, this new album "Hollow" (2007) does not surprise me musically as I am quite familiar with it. This is the kind of music that I admire in its entirety as an excellent music but it has failed to create a strong motive for me to re-spin the CD. It has happened with their previous two albums in which the CDs have been lying at shelf and I never re-spin long time ago since I got the CDs. It's probably most of the songs are straight forward with relatively minimum changes in music style from one point to another until it finishes. The opening track "Hollow" proves what I have just said. The music flows naturally in a sequence that can be followed by any music buffs - not necessary a prog man.

But at second track the band is willing to explore the music further with music horizon differs from previous track as well as any styles of its previous albums. In fact it uses an ambient opening in mellow style with the work of saxophone. The music moves slowly until in the middle of the track it moves into upbeat fast tempo with excellent arrangements. I think this is a very progressive song because it goes through multiple ups and downs with different styles.

"Paranoiac" starts beautifully with vintage organ sounds followed with a blast of music that reminds me to Spock's Beard. It's a cool intro. This is an attractive song with great combination of guitar, keyboard work in relatively fast tempo and energetic mode from start to end with some beautiful breaks through bass guitar and keyboard inventive notes in transition segments. It's a pleasure enjoying this track especially with its great keyboard solo and catchy piano work. It reminds me to Rick Wakeman but in different ways.

"Contimacious" starts nicely with acoustic guitar rhythms followed with drum work in which the tom sounds are quite unique and quite dominant followed with singing line. I can consider this is a ballad music in medium tempo. "Preying" opens with ambient piano followed with medium tempo music. This song includes a narration (a dialogue) in the middle of the track. At approx minute 2:00 the song turns into a reggae style with its unique guitar rhythm. "Orderly" starts mellow with a great piano work accompanied by acoustic guitar followed with choirs in ambient mood. The song moves into medium tempo music. "Hiding" is another ballad in mellow style formed by the combination of guitar and keyboard /piano.

"Stage" , the opening part reminds me to the music of Rush especially "Permanent Wave" album. "Symbiosis" is really a great track with complex opening combining keyboard, guitar and dynamic drumming and it then flows into break with powerful singing. "Special" concludes the album with good ballad, with great acoustic guitar work.

Overall, I consider this as an excellent addition to any prog music collection. The music of Little Atlas can be considered as original one because I can not find any peculiar influence that dominates the album. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

After so many flattering around "Hollow" I had to run the risk and check it by myself and I may tell you (for the case someone is reading it, which I doubt) that all good talks about this album is meritorious; I became greatly entertained. LITTLE ATLAS, a recently shaped prog act, reached their adulthood with a fine and ripe release, configured like a conceptual album, that will satiate a diversity of musical tastes, from those who prefer heavy and powerful tunes up to the ones who favor soft and catchy melodies. In addition, "Hollow" contains a bit of psychedelics and also fusion spices, neo-prog touches and experimental moods, displaying clearly the multiplicity of band's influences.

The album starts great with the roaring 'Hollow' which left no doubt about band members proficiency and song composing knowledge. It's hard, it's tough, and it's involving; there's a flavor of some 70s heavy rocks but this time with a neat and mature 21st Century approach. Next comes 'Silence', initially serene and agreeable, and later explosive with a blast of guitars, keyboards, drumming and sharp vocals. 'Paranoiac' keeps running the engaging atmosphere this time enriched with exquisite noises counterbalanced by fine guitar chords and enchanting tunes provided by the keyboards. With 'Contumacious' things apparently cool down but the air is filled with some exquisite pattern that grabs the hearer attention. 'Preying' could be dubbed as the cheesiest song in the album, although the tenderness is broken by spoken words and tempered moments; all steadily joyous.

'Orderly' opens album's second half not letting the climate fades; the track maintains the captivating nervousness that exhales from the entire work, while 'Hiding' brings a certain romantic substance emphasized by suave vocals with instrumentation flowing in accordance. 'Stage' rocks around the player and if the hearer feels a certain sleeping desire now it's time to revive. Album's peak is attained with 'Symbiosis', probably the best and most progressive track here; there's an uttered symbiosis of Dream Theater, Yes, Deep Purple and the likes, supplied by half-whispered and half-intense vocals and garnished by luxurious keyboards activity. 'Special' closes the album pleasantly; a very harmonic and melodic short song, nevertheless in consonance with the whole heard before.

All in all, a very impressive and remarkable effort, also surprising and uplifting when one looks for what's being done in the new progressive scenery; thus doubtlessly a fine addition to any prog music shelf.