THE END IS BEAUTIFUL

I really have to admit that I truly underrated THE END IS BEAUTIFUL as I heard it for the first time. Too poppish, no prog-elements, but at least pretty good chant, was my imrpession. Far from it! The CD is pure (depressive) Progressive Rock that needs some time to find a way into your heart. Not only the chant is convincing, it is the entire mood which is created by the nice work of the members on their instruments that at least got me. The lyrics are pretty, pretty good and sad.

I don't want to say this album would not have faults, for example it seems that I personally can not get into the song "Arc Of Descent (Dancing In A Motel Just West Of Lincoln)" because it seems to be too poppy for me and you may not be that wrong when blaming "Lovesick Morning" for being nearly to cheesy (though I like that song a lot) and maybe there are too less solos for some people's tastes on that disc, but

you have to hold it to the band's credit that THE END IS BEAUTIFUL is really well-structured, that the music and the lyrics are demanding (even if it does not seem to be that way when you listen to the album for the first time) and that ECHOLYN is still progressing here which is also not usual for such an "old" band (I mean they exist since 15 years and it seems to me that they have not run out of ideas and are still making good music).

I strongly recommend THE END IS BEAUTIFUL to those people who are not that heavily into prog because it is not very dissonant and to all prog heads who love complex music with beautiful melodies. Still you will hear some influences here, for example, a KING CRIMSON-like trumpets-ending in the song "Heavy Blue Miles" or a short guitar solo in the song "The End Is Beautiful" that may remind you on a solo played by STEVE HOWE of YES. However, of course ECHOLYN have their own style.

Not only the end is beautiful on this CD! Four stars!