ARTIFICIAL PARADISE

Although I had rated Sylvan quite high when I discovered them (2004), I had to correct my judgement after a few more spins. At least for their first two albums. So, what has "Artificial Paradise" to offer ?

As usual, Marco is doing a very good job. This is not so often the case with German bands, so when the vocalist is good in his English interpretation it has to be said.

The long opener "Deep Inside" is a good number. The very nice guitar play sounds really beautiful (but this will be an overall tendancy on this album). It is a bit too mellowish and naive to be really catchy. I'm just missing something here; but I can't really define what. Could have been more inspired probably.

"That´s Why It Hurts" sounds very much like a Placebo song. Medium tempo with dominent drumming. Marco imitating Molko. It is a very nice song, full of emotion in the fianl guitar solo. Actually this is one of my preferred Sylvan track so far in their whole career. The link with Placebo (one of my preferred band) is probably closely related of course.

Same Placebo mood for "Strange Emotion". But the quiet side of that band for most of the track. It gets a bit more nervous and personal (meaning Sylvan) during the second half of the song. The finale is absolutely AWFUL. When Sylvan meets Motown. Where the hell did they get their inspiration for this ??? Press next of course.

I have a mixed feeling about "Human Apologies". The chorus is pleasant but the overall mood is heavy, funky for most of it. There is also a mixing with some Oriental influence which sound not really complementary, to say the least. I am really looking to some sorts of constistency here, but can't find it. We'll even get some spacey interlude before a great (and I mean it) guitar solo a la Rothery or Barrett (Nick). Very strange composition.

Next song could not be more Marillion oriented. The guitar intro sounds as close to Rothery as it is humanly possible. "Misplaced" period for the guitar but "Season's End" for the vocals. A tour de force actually to mix these two Marillion influences. But it is a very good track. Brilliant vocals as usual and a good backing band. Kay Söhl performs really well on the guitar. A highlight.

Sylvan will then propose a trio of shorter songs of which "I Still Believe" sounds as an AOR / heavy piece of music. The worse number with "Strange Emotion". (indeed, very strange). Fortunately it only lasts for a mere three minutes, but boy ! what a nightmare. "Around The World" features bizarre and disturbing vocals. It sounds as if Marco is looking to emulate someone else. Why ? and Who ? He has such a nice voice that I really wonder why he is over-exaggerating his style here. The jazzy mood of the song might well sound original but I only appreciate moderately this combination with neo-prog. The third one "Souvenirs" has an almost classical atmosphere. Not great either I 'm afraid.

The central piece and title track opens very nicely on a great instrumental part. It turns into a fully symphonic song as soon as Marco enters into action. It is a pure beauty, and it will remain so during the wonderful instrumental piano oriented-break. One has the impression to hear Banks or Emerson. Very delicate. Even the marimba-like sound is efficient ! this number is by far the most sophisticated of the album. Maybe a bit too much. There are so many different parts that it is a bit difficult to find the main theme. We'll even get some Crimsonesque instants around minute twelve. So, there are many influences in this track. As it were not enough, some rap will be added as well. At this time, I really have say, STOP ! Fortunately, they will hear me since we are brought back again into the nice and symphonic sound of the early part. The end sounding pretty much like Yes. What a combination of genre !

Sylvan is made of brilliant musicians and a very good vocalist. Their main problem resides in their inspiration, which is seriously lacking album after album. There will some good songs on this one (four) of which "Artificial Paradise". It could have been really great if at times it did not get lost in some weird experimental moments (but short, I admit).

The same comment as for Mostly Automn comes to my mind : this album is much too long. This album could have been a very good one if only several tracks would have been deleted. "Strange Emotion", "I Still Believe" and ""Souvenirs" for instance. The album would still have peaked at almost sixty minutes and wouldn't have lost a single interesting moment. As such I will rate this album with three stars.