OVERHEAD — Metaepitome

Friends, I think we should be proud that a newly established Finnish band Overhead which the musicians’ age do not exceed twenty-six years old because these young gentlemen would later carry the torch of prog music in the long years ahead as they are still pretty young, age-wise. And this album is the second release after their debut “Zumanthum” (2002). I just received the album about a week ago and was impressed with the musical quality these young lads produce. Yes, there are influences from previous bands like Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream, King Crimson, Marillion (Hogarth era), Genesis. But if I can sum it up, the music is pretty similar with Lands End or RPWL but with more energy. As I have not listened to their debut album, but I can confirm that this second album has proved that their music composition has reached a level of maturity as the band has successfully combined melodic elements and musical harmonies from various instruments used.

Metaepitome (19:40)

This album opener may well explain what I mean with this album’s similarity to Lands End music especially “Natural Selection” album at least on the first part. This track starts out as a fairly complete chord progression that guitarist Jaakko Kettunen brings in his acoustic guitar with the music flow accompanying low register notes voice line. The track builds-up steadily with the augmentation of thin mellotron sounds. Yep, the parts with mellotron work is really awesome. As the music moves at approx minutes 5 plus there is a nice flute work by Alex Keskitalo with rythmic section in the vein of Tangerine Dream, at least on the way keyboard is played in floating style. It’s a really nice interplay. What I can summarize about this track is that the music floats beautifully through the acoustic guitar chord progression with some etheral keyboard sounds that project a symphonic nuance combined with stunning guitar solo during interlude. It’s really a good composition.

Warning: Ending (without warning) (7:56)

Listening to the opening part you may have perceived that this is a spacey music. Indeed, it is (if we happen to listen the first part). The song moves slowly with some repeated keyboard work followed with drum work as the song builds into crescendo. The insertion of flute before vocal enters has enriched the textures of the music. There is an element of R&B when the vocal department takes its role, beautifully combined with keyboard insert and solid bass lines. At second verse of lyrics, electric guitar fills the music at the back whilst the singer performs its duty. The music increases into louder voice during chorus with “Warning: Ending ….” Lyrical part. The insertion of classical piano during singing part is really cool. Overall, it’s a simple track but it’s enjoyable.

Point of View (5:17)

The third track continues the tradition of using acoustic guitar as main structure of the composition with voice line builds up as the music grows. Electric guitar performs its solo in Floydian style augmented with piano work. Oh man .. I love this guitar work – even though nothing seems too complicated. Prog does not necessarily mean complex, right? Or, am I wrong? It does not seem to matter to me; I come back to my philosophy: music is emotion. So, as long as the music penetrates to my mind and stays well inside, BOOM! I got it man ….!!!

Butterfly's Cry (7:03)

WOW! man … the opening part of this track has made me stunned and has caused my mind paralyzed enjoying the beautiful – and a bit complex – harmony of musical instruments (bass, synthesizer, drums and flute) that work perfectly to construct a cohesive opening. As the music builds up the vocal enters in duo voice lines during chorus. The keyboard solo continues the melody in a neo progressive style. There are actually not much complexity during the lyrical parts but it turns more complex with parts without vocal, accentuated in alternate between guitar and keyboard (dominant).

Arrival of the Red Bumblebee (2:16)

It’s a mellow track that combines piano solo combined with mellotron work in floating style. A nice instrumental that serves nicely as bridge to the last track.

Down (16:22)

This concluding track starts off with guitar fills reminiscent of Steve Rothery works with Marillion’s later album (Hogarth era). You might find this guitar fills in Hoildays in Eden album of Marillion. The music flows in medium tempo reminiscent of Lands End music. Hackettian guitar augments the music that accompanies voice line. This track is too long as the music flows relatively flat from start to end with no (or relatively few) tempo changes. It’s probably composed like the way space psychedelic music is like. But for my personal taste, it’s boring because there are many repetition of melody. So I’d better stop this review as I’m getting bored with this “elongated” composition. It’s a regret that this album is concluded with this track even though it’s not bad at all.

Overall Summary

Overall, I still consider that this album is very good, evn though not essential. The band has successfully created excellent composition, blending such elements of psychedelic, space music and symphonic prog into a good harmony. The fact that the concluding track is composed differently seems to me like a loose end of this album and it reduces cohesiveness of this album. But this band has a promising future in the years ahead. I’m sure about this. For those of you who want to enjoy a blend of neo prog and space psychedelic music, this may fit to you. Keep on proggin’ ..!

Progressively yours,

GW

Posted Thursday, July 07, 2005, 07:40 EST | http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=38750 - Permanent link

OVERHEAD — Metaepitome

Three years after their debut CD entitled Zumanthum (from 2002) this Finnish band came up with this successor. I read many positive reviews and stories about Overhead so I was very curious to this new CD. Let’s analyse it song by song.

1. Metaepitome (19:40): This long titletrack starts with acoustic gutiar and melancholic vocals, then a mellow eruption featuring Floydian slide guitar and pleasant keyboards like organ and the Fender Rhodes electric piano sound. The dreamy climate is wonderfully coloured by majestic violin-Mellotron waves, followed by compelling bombastic prog delivering powerful organ. Then we can enjoy a varied and tasteful ‘progrock stew’: an exciting break with propulsive guitar chords (between Pink Foyd and early Twelfth Night), a fiery guitar solo with howling licks, a sensational synthesizer solo, a piece with metal riffs and sparkling piano, classical piano and dreamy vocals, soaring Mellotron with fragile piano play, concluded with the sound of the intro: twanging acoustic guitar and warm vocals. What a way to start an album, such an alternating and tasteful progrock!

2. Warning: Ending (7:56): This track sounds totally different from the first! First slow, then more and more compelling featuring swirling flute play. Suddenly the climate shifts to cheerful delivering modern progrock inspired music. In between some pieces with classical piano and dreamy vocals. A very varied and surprising one!

3. Point Of View 5:17: This composition is build upon very compelling, beautifully build-up guitar soli (from sensitive with volume-pedal to howling and fiery), supported by lush organ, wonderful!

4. Butterfly's Cry (7:03): A swinging rhythm featuring flute, powerful bass guitar and fluent organ waves. Again it sounds modern, far away from the mainstream progrock but still progressive. In the end a spectacular synthesizer solo, a nice musical idea.

5. Arrival Of The Red Bumblebee 2:16: A short, instrumental piece delivering sensitive piano and soft Mellotron waves, very mellow in comparison with the other tracks.

6. Down 16:22: The final song is a pleasant mix of many musical styles, again far away from the maintream progrock but for sure it sounds progressive! The keyboards are electronically inspired, the guitar howls, the rhythm-section is propulsive and the vocals contain a melancholical undertone. Very tasteful but so different from the first track, almost another band!

I needed a few turns to get into Overhead their music, not every song is my cup of tea but to me Overhead sounds like a fresh and inspired progrock band. If you are up to their varied sound, this musical chameleon will delight you!