REPETITIONS OF THE OLD CITY - I

It's not easy to review Jack O 'The Clock's music! It is true that many elements of classical Progressive Rock are present in the band's music, but we also have many other sounds like chamber music and the sound of the unusual instruments they use in their records (xylophone, melodic, psaltery, violin, bassoon, flute, accordion, among others).

I've been following the band since their 2013 album 'All My Friends', which was for me one of the best albums of 2013 and it is almost perfect. 'Night Loops', their next, still carries the same quality, but it seems to me that the band has repeated too many ideas of the previous album on this one. Than they released 'Outsider Songs' that ws more like a EP of covers. When I heard about the new album, 'Repetitions of the Old City - I', I was very excited. And I can tell you this: Jack O 'The Clock's music is still doing great!

The band's rich textures and sound layers are still intact, but this time they've added a lot of 'really' Progressive moments on the record, with a few riffs and more drums, though keeping the Folk side pretty strong.

I do not believe that 'Repetitions of the Old City - I' surpass 'All My Friends' as my favorite Jack's record, but it has potential. (Okay, I confess I have not heard their first two albums yet, I need to do it urgently).

In the first few spins of the new album the impression I had was that the record is a little too long and that could have been leaner. There are several moments that sound like filler parts and this kills the 'vibe' of the disc in some parts.

But, besides that I do believe this is one of the stronger moments in Jack O' The Clock discography and I can say, without any guilt that this band is one of the most innovative names in underground music today!

Available here: jackotheclock.bandcamp.com/album/repetitions-of-the-old-city-i