ROOM FOR SURPRISE

The amazing cover art is actually a painting titled "Fishermen at Sea" from 1796. The lyrics often seem to be from the view point of a soldier. The music is clearly from the neo camp and is mostly slow to mid paced with the keys / synths / piano dominating the sound. I did think of GENESIS and PINK FLOYD but these guys really have their own unique sound. The music seems so simple and straightforward as it often plods along, but it has a hold of me big time. It's cool that the keyboard player is a female(Siri) she also sings lead on a couple of tracks.The leader of the band is the drummer / vocalist Pal Sovik who wrote all the lyrics and helped to compose all the music.

"Time To Go" is a slow moving track with lots of synths and light drums. Crying synths to open and later at 4 1/2 minutes. Vocals are almost spoken by Pal. Lightning cracks after 5 1/2 minutes. Very cool song. "Tall n Dark" is a more energetic track with lots of keys. It's quite catchy, a toe tapper. Vocals a minute in. Waves of synths and steady drumming throughout. Nice guitar melody 3 minutes in. "Keep The Light" features Siri on vocals as synths pulse. Pal helps out with backup vocals. A fuller sound a minute in, and it sounds fantastic. This contrast continues. This is fairly slow paced. A tasteful guitar solo 3 minutes in. "Room For Surprise" opens with the sound of running water and drums. Vocals and keys come in. It becomes a catchy little mid-paced tune. The guitar provides some rawness to the soundscape. "Touch The Sky" opens with mournful synths. Drums come in as the tempo picks up a notch. Vocals are next. A more powerful soundscape briefly 2 minutes in. Guitar and keys shine. It settles down 4 minutes in as synths wash and a killer guitar solo plays over top. Back to the mid-paced melody before 6 minutes. More waves of sound 7 1/2 minutes in and later to end it. The best song on here in my opinion.

"Hunting Old Ladies" like the band's name tends to make me cringe. Haha. They have a sense of humour anyway. This is the only instrumental on here. Banks-like pulsating synths with drums early. A beautiful sound 2 minutes in as synths wash and piano comes in. Pulsating synths are back. Some nice fat bass 3 1/2 minutes in. "Golden Age" features vocals, drums and waves of synths. The guitar 2 1/2 minutes in to the end is outstanding. "The Famous Hill" is another favourite of mine. This one is brighter with guitar and keys standing out. Vocals after 2 1/2 minutes when melody stops and waves of synths wash in. It kicks back in a minute later. Another calm 5 1/2 minutes in as vocals, synths and piano take over. I'm reminded of FLOYD when the guitar comes soaring in with synths in the background. A "Whisper" opens with piano and background synths.Soft female vocals come in. Drums and a fuller sound 1 1/2 minutes in. The contrast continues.I like the guitar after 3 1/2 minutes. A synth solo followed by bass after 5 minutes. The guitar is very well done again as the vocals return 7 minutes in.

This is one of those recordings that defy explanation as to why i like it so much. Simply put, I love their sound.