FETISH

3.5 stars. When I first heard about this band I just assumed they were a Psychedelic band with a name like SEVEN STEPS TO THE GREEN DOOR. Well I was way off as this young German band play more of an Eclectic brand of Prog. Man this album is getting rave reviews all over the place and I can certainly understand why as this is so well done and very proggy too. We get male and female vocals and these guys really delve into GENTLE GIANT territory with the vocal arrangements and harmonies which are really impressive. They can be quite heavy too which is contrasted quite well with the more laid back passages.

"Possible Delayed" is a short intro track of less than a minute of male and female vocals. "PORN!" certainly impresses with the intricate sounds that seem to counter each other. Male vocals around 1 1/2 minutes in until they are replaced by female vocals. A calm 4 minutes in but when it kicks back in we get a lot of intricate sounds again including sax this time. This really sounds good when it settles down with male vocals. Sax follows. Great track! "Still Searching" opens with vocals and backing vocals before the instruments join in, and it's the piano and drums standing out here as the vocals continue. Nice guitar solo when the vocals stop. Sounds like mellotron too followed by a GENTLE GIANT-like vocal arrangement. Piano only 5 1/2 minutes in as the sound continues to change.

"Inferior" opens with more excellent vocals and instrumental work. It settles down before 1 1/2 minutes and I like the mellotron that seems to sweep over top before 3 minutes. A piano solo follows and an almost circus-like melody. It then settles as themes are repeated. "Imprisoned" is melancholic not so surprisingly considering the title. Piano to start as sad female vocals join in. Some nasty organ follows then a full sound with passionate male vocals. Female and male vocals trade off then it turns instrumental before 6 minutes. This is good with that nasty organ returning and check out the guitar that follows with drums and piano. Great sound once again. It calms right down late with female vocals to end it. "Bound In Chains" is relatively restrained both vocally and instrumentally for the first 3 minutes. I'm not into the sound when it becomes more passionate but that lasts only about 1 1/2 minutes. The last part features male vocals.

"Last Lullaby" is also fairly laid back overall with male and female vocals. The drums and piano standout. It does pick up after 4 minutes then it turns quiet before minor riffs arrive. Flute too around 6 minutes. I like the instrumental sound a minute later. "Set In Motion" opens with piano, percussion and spoken words as sax and laughter arrive and take over. Then there's a somewhat jazzy section that soon turns powerful then male vocals join in. It settles with sax and female vocals as contrasts continue. "Ordinary Maniac" is the over 16 minute closer. Female vocals and a pastoral sound to start before it turns heavy 2 1/2 minutes in. Male and female vocals now then it settles before 5 minutes with percussion as the vocals stop. They are back and check out the fast paced vocals that follow and then the harmonies. It turns heavy before 13 minutes. Oh, there's also a violin solo by guest Steve Unruh on this track.

Apparently I'm in the minority with the less than 4 star rating but I just can't pull the trigger on 4 stars. This just is not an album I look forward to playing despite how well it's done. And at over 78 minutes this is too long.