RETROSPECTIVE

This is a band that I had VERY high expectations for after falling under their spell with their first and second albums, 2007's EP, Spectrum of the Green Morning, and 2008's Stolen Thoughts, but this output is sorely disappointing. The music lacks any interesting development or emotional impact. There is plenty of solid heavy prog, each song seems to constantly threaten to explode, but they rarely do. Each vocal from veteran Jakub Roszak is often set up as the highlight of each song--and yet it is not: the vocals never sock you or rock you; instead they are full of unrealized potential energy and Roszak's EDDIE VEDDER/MARCO GLÜHMANN- imitative presence--yet nothing here approaches the power and spine-tingling, haunting vocals of either of Spectrum of the Green Morning's classics, "Enemy World Vision" or "Regret and Frightened Child"--both of which rival anything fellow countrymen and Heavy Prog brothers RIVERSIDE have ever done. (IMHO.) With repeated listens I have discovered many subtleties that might be considered indicative of 'progress,' 'development' or 'maturation' of the band, yet after four years I can't help but have hoped for more. More surprises, more twists, more shifts, more. Perhaps it's in the lyrics (to which, as always, I am oblivious).

Album high points: 2. "Huge Black Hole" (3:59) (8/10); 6. "Tomorrow Will Change" (6:19) (8/10), and; 9. "Swallow the Green Tones" (10:34) (8/10).

3.5 stars, rated down for being non-essential.

I don't know why it has taken these Polish proggers four years since 'Stolen Thoughts', but at last they are back with their new album. What we have here is a solid combination of prog rock, prog metal, classic rock and a host of other influences. Jakub Roszak has a very strong voice and can either drive a song along or be more reflective as on "Lunch" where he duets with Beata Łagoda. They mix Muse with Porcupine Tree in a way that is immediate and inviting to the proghead, while never losing any of the power and thrust of a hard rock band. They can slow it down or speed it up, yet always with the vocals at the heart of what they are doing.

In many ways this is a very mature piece of work, layered and thoughtful with strong production. This is yet another album that proves that prog music is very much alive and well in Poland, and luckily their website can be read by those who prefer English at www.retrospective.pl . Sheer class from beginning to end.

Finally! An album whose absence from the PA radar is shocking to me! "Between RIVERSIDE and PEARL JAM" is so accurate! Try the free downloads, "Regret and Frightened Child" (9/10) and "Enemy World Vision" (10/10) from www.last.fm.com and you will discover an absolutely amazing sound of this somehow not-yet-'discovered' band from Poland! The 2007 EP shows signs of 'imaturity'--mostly in production and lack of variation in composition and sound--though song 6, "Have in Mind" (7/10) is different in its keyboard (a poor-man's electric piano) intro & foundation, and song 3 "Pink Elephant Missed" (6/10) is also different in that it has a more rock'n'roll feel to it--like PEARL JAM trying to do LED ZEPPELIN. Song 2, "Some Kind of Hope" (6/10) sounds a bit too much like "Regret..." and "Enemy..." though is flawed in its having less polish in the recording mix. Song 4, "Waking Up in the ZOO," (8/10) is quite good with tight RIVERSIDE-like drums and bass and an interesting ALEX LIFESON/RUSH-sounding guitar cranking out the power chords. The vocalist is excellent--very much like a cross between Eddie Vedder and Mariuz Duda (which becomes more Eddie Vedder-like in their next album)--though the lyrics of several of these songs could use a little boost. This is definitely a band that needs/deserves to be heard. If you like RIVERSIDE, you will love this album! Highly recommended. 4 stars.