IT'S KIND OF YOU TO ASK

It took me quite some time to get myself ready to review this album. This is usually the case with very complex albums but to say that this is such an album goes too far I have to say. In fact it appears to be a pretty accessible album by Also Eden, a new name for me by the way. And yet it was a hard one to get a grip on. Also the level of compositional quality was hard to judge this time. I will review song by song to get the picture together for this one.

Star is a long track with a strange soft/silent like start (I even thought my boxes were not ok) for the first two minutes but after this it turns to a normal song. This opener gives a good idea about the standard of this album that treats of loneliness. The vocals and lyrics are very important on this album. Accessible and yet complex is what I want to call the most of this album and certainly also this first track. Good song. 3,75*

Artificial Light goes on the same way more or less though it's a track of only half the length as the opener. It results in less attention for the instrumental bits and pieces on this one. 3,5*.

Skimming Stones is a very good example of the significant lyrics. This is a very sensitive song and impresses in this way. Usually not what I'm personally looking for in music but still this one moves me in a way. 3,75*.

Outside In is a longer track once again and this is the heaviest track on the album at least in the first half of the song with pretty heavy guitarplay. Halfway down the piano takes over in a beautiful way to introduce the more quiet second half of the mini-epic. Another very good song. 3,75*.

Together Alone is the shortest and least track of this album with again a strong focus on meaningful lyrics. Still a pretty good track, 3,25*.

6th track is the very highlight called A Widow's Eyes. Besides the also on this one important lyrics this track offers quite a lot for the more instrumental minded listeners like me. Especially in the second half of the song this becomes obvious. Excellent song this. 4,25*.

Photographs is a very good closing track of this average length album (1 hour). It summarizes the average standard of this album just like in the opening track. So if you want to check out this one in the store or wherever, first and last track suffice to make up your mind. 3,75*.

And the given score for most of the tracks (3,75*) is actually what this album is worth for me. Therefore 4 stars is the only fair outcome I can think of. It's hard to compare this band with other bands. They remind me somewhat of Abel Ganz and Millenium but those are not really very famous neobands. If you want a big name it's a bit problematic, Just Hogarth era Marillion is a slight similarity but no more.