SLEEPING IN TRAFFIC - PART ONE

''The sane day'' was over and ''Sleeping in traffic pt.1'' was the new work in progress for Beardfish.No time lost, they entered the studio immediately after the second album and by the summer of 2006 most of the work was complete.It was the same time, when they received an invitation to play at the ProgDay festival in Chapel Hill, so they did and upon their return they added a last cut to the tracklist.Some labels show significant interest in singing the band, eventually Inside Out was the one to welcome them in its roster and the third work of the band was released in May 2007.

You should pretty much forget about a band trying to perform along the lines of SPOCK'S BEARD, the only remainings from their similarities with the Americans were some quirky but a bit sloppy Pop sensibilities.The brand new Beardfish is more an affair between ethereal vocal Psych/Art Rock and dramatic, complex Heavy Prog with punchy guitars and keyboards, now they were definitely closer to compatriots ANEKDOTEN than SPOCK'S BEARD due to the heavy bass lines and syncopated rhythms, but do not expect some dominant Mellotron or dark musicianship, Beardfish'es music always bursts a romantic attitude despite the attacking instrumental parts and the complicated textures.The softer parts remind me of the old Canterbury scene and the first few steps of CARAVAN and THE SOFT MACHINE to a lesser extent, warm electric piano, poppy tunes, omnipresent Hammond organ and a bit of synths with tempo variations and sweet vocal arrangements.The more powerful moments have something from the music of KING CRIMSON and GENTLE GIANT, impressive instrumental interactions, jazzy overtones, heavier moments and tricky twists and turns with both analog and modern keyboard lines.In case you wonder where the GENESIS and YES' aspirations have gone, I guess you can still find some snippets of light symphonic tunes and more melodious themes in the album, but mostly as an exception to the rule, which is now revisiting complex 70's Prog and Canterbury Psychedelia under a modern wagon.

Satisfying album from the start to the very end.After listening to it several times I found it incredibly well-composed, still a certain feel of a masterpiece work was missing.Anyway, a very eclectic progressive album, I can't see anyone not finding something to like in here.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.