ARGOT

I got the band's name from a prog mate that said this is an excellent prog band. Combined with good reviews from this website, I purchased the CD of this album couple months ago. At first spin, it did not strike my mind at all as I felt something was not quite right with the music. I thought, it's something common in prog, you might not get "into it" until several times listening to the music. As usual, I kept trying other chances after giving some spins of other CDs with various sub-genres of prog bands: neo prog, prog met, symphonic rock, etc. Then I tried it again with this album for other couple spins, and it still did not impress me. Again, I thought, something was not quite right but I did not know what was it. I could not express exactly what was missing from the album.

I did another chance (reluctantly, actually . cause I don't know, what attracts me to have another spin?) to have another spin of this album. Finally, I could make sense of my decision to spin the CD this morning: I just want to justify whether my decision to purchase this CD was a worthy one or not? Well, it's probably for most of you it's okay to spend a USD 15 for a CD, but in a very developing world like in my country that amount of monies can be used for 10 - 15 times "decent" lunch. So, in any decision to purchase a CD, it must be a justifiable one. That's my view. Of course, it's different with those of you who live in developed nations .. It may have cost you a one lunch only.

OK, back to this CD, having struggled to identify what was "missing" in this record, I finally found something simple that probably it's not common in musical terms. I define it simply as "music density". It sounds confusing? I understand how you feel. It's about how the music of a band fills in the overall composition of their music - is there any empty spot in its music? Basically, it's how many spots (or how much?) available in each passage of music? It does not apply to quieter passage that is required by the composition itself. When I say a quieter passage is the segment by which the composition requires a quiet music to form its overall composition of a song in order to provide variety of emotional impacts destined to make. Be it as it is if it's part of the composition. But, when the music returns into full swing but you still find some spots available, that becomes annoying for our listening pleasure. As for this album, overall, I find that the composition is really lacking music density - it sounds empty or hollow kind of thing. That's one part, there are other parts that I think I should describe as the following track by track review .

John Doe Number One

Duration-wise, it seems like an epic song but there is no such indication that this track is sectioned under some parts - whatsoever. It starts with a semi classical piano sound with some breaks with a keyboard sound. The intro is for me a reminiscent of ELP or Van der Graaf Generator in its simplest form. The repeated chords with some changes into adjacent chords have in a way annoyed me. I feel annoyed especially with a boring piano sound with repeated chords. The music itself is so hollow that leaves many spots / spaces that actually can be filled in with rhythm section or improvised instrument sounds. I thought it's probably the bassline is so dull to my ears (well, sorry for the bassist - I'm just trying to be honest with my experience). On quieter passage where only piano and vocal take part in the music, I don't get any sense of nice-ness about its melody / composition. It turns then to a very weak rhythm with thin (sound-wise) drum beats [approx min 5:55]. What a boring segment this one is!

Another annoying part is when the vocal sings "You don't want to know .." With a very mediocre singing quality. Ugh . it's so annoying man . When the music turns into Emerson like keyboard work, it does not seem to blow any sound of tight composition. In summary, I can only say that the composition lacks music density, weak composition, repeated and not catchy melodies. The structure is very simple but the repetition is really annoying .. I come to realize that people should not misunderstand that prog should necessary require a long duration of composition. This song is too long with a very minimum of variations.

Escape

This track starts off with a nice church organ sound continued with classical (and nice) piano work. When the music enters its full sound with a vocal line - it sounds very empty with mediocre instrumentations to fill in the music except Emerson-like keyboard work. Drumming is so boring with limited variations, bassline is only filling in the end of bars, mediocre voice line and strained guitar work. I can not grab the tagline melody of this song. The guitar rhythm is so boring - repeated chords over and over .. I fail to identify the best parts of this track except the intro section. Another weak composition and again .. it lacks music density. The vibes solo seems to make the song sounds better but it fails to help the overall composition. Sorry, that;s what I can say about this track.

Proximity

The opening part reminds me, again, to ELP. The inclusion of vibes at the intro part is really good! It flows with Emerson-like keyboard work augmented with electric guitar. When vocal enters, it does not sound a great prog music to my ears. It seems to me that the music was "forced to be" prog by making the composition a bit complex, but it's loosen the overall structural integrity of a good prog tune. I can tolerate the guitar solo backed with repeated keyboard chords that serve as rhythm section. But, I got problems with drumming and bassline. They can actually fill many excellent spots between time signatures in nice ways. They sould not play a role as goal keepers, waiting for until other instruments contribute the work. As a result, it's a song that lacks its density.

Call To Whoever

It opens with a symphonic style in neo prog vein. Even though it's characterized by a sort of repetition but it has some variations at the intro part. The music then flows in medium tempo with a combination of guitar and keyboard sounds. A nice opening that lacks the roles of drumming and bass guitar. The music continues with a guitar solo before it enters to vocal. The part that is started with a short solo drum indicates lack of music density also with this track - sometime the music is so empty with bass and drum fill in the music. It's another track that is forced to be prog but it sounds "so and so" to me. It's not something that sounds natural to me ..

My Overall Recommendation

This is the only album that I have of this band but it's enough for me for not adding another CD of the band unless they completely change their music direction or improve their composition. To sum up, I find this album lacks music density, weak composition, not enough variations - even if there is, it's not composed with a smooth transition. I can not catch the "head" and "tail" of the music. Musician-wise: it lacks the role of bass guitar, drum and vocal. After all, that is only based on my humble opinion. I'm sure, you may have other opinions. If you can enjoy this music, I respect it very much. That's the beauty of having different opinion about prog music - we have to be open mind. Therefore, I put this album under two stars category which is for collectors only. You are the final judge whether or not to purchase this album. Keep on Progging .!!!

Progressively yours,

GW - Indonesia.

P.S. : For those of you who can enjoy this album, please do let me know on how to best enjoy it. I mean it, because I want my investment is worth-wile. Thanks!

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