THE LOST ART OF TIME TRAVEL

This is the latest Presto Ballet album and it is a a very good release indeed. Here the band is much more mature than in its previous album Peace Among the Ruins and that becomes so clear that i think it is unnecessary to keep comparing them further. However, this album have some important setbacks that keep me from giving it a better grade (i once wanted to give it the five stars, but now i am sure it is not that good, unfortunately).

The 1st problem is that the album is badly divided: the best songs (The Mind Machine, Thieves and One Tragedy at a Time) are all put together at the beginning of the album, or at least at its 1st part, and the rest of the album is not as good and it needed at least one more good song towards the end. The second problem is that the main musical theme of the song Thieves is extremely similar to a portuguese traditional folk dance called O Vira and almost every time i listen that song (Thieves) i laugh, besides it being a good song. The third setback is that the third song (You're Alive) completely breaks the flow of the album, taking away much of the energy that the band built up during the 1st and the 2nd songs.

Despite those problems, the album is still very good. The opening track is just perfect and is, in my opinion, the best track of the album and the following track can keep the feeling, the energy, very well. The 4th track is also very good and can get back some of the energy lost in You're Alive, but after One Tragedy at a Time the album becomes just good. The Lost Art of Time Travel is also kind of heavier than its predecessor, having some considerable headbanging in it (at least in the firsts songs). Unfortunately the band was not able to keep the same quality through all the album and that is just sad. However, as i said before, this album is notably better than their previous album and if they keep getting better every album they will soon make a masterpiece.

About the songs, musicianship and other features, there are somethings i would like to state:

Most songs here are good, but the highlights here go to only three songs that really stood out: The Mind Machine, Thieves and One Tragedy at a Time, but specially to The Mind Machine.

One good feature of this band that really impressed be is the singer. Usually i don't like most vocals the 1st time i listen a band, but this band was an exception to it. the vocals fit right into the band's music and are quite nice sung. Another thing that deserves to be mentioned is the very good bass work and the also very good synthesizers and organ work.

Grade and Final Thoughts

So, besides this album being fantastic, some of the decisions made by the band just pulled it down, made it worse. So, because of that, i think this album deserves 4 stars. Better luck next time Presto Ballet.

Share this PRESTO BALLET review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to CCVP
• Report this review (#182825)
• Buy PRESTO BALLET music online with PA partners
• Show all PRESTO BALLET MP3/Stream
• Go to PRESTO BALLET page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to The Lost Art Of Time Travel page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for PRESTO BALLET related discussions