STROMATOLITE

After 20 years of silence the energetic leader of Japanese symphonic prog OUTER LIMITS returns with an album that equals or eclipses "Misty Moon" and "Scene of Pale Blue" from the 1980s. For a band that carried the banner in those dark days, it is only fitting that their comeback be just as surprising as every one of its predecessors. The only personnel change is in bassist/vocalist Tadashi Sugimoto who also adds cello.

In their Crimson meets UK and FM mould, OUTER LIMITS manages to be both technical and comforting, something that could rarely be said of those references, or many other bands in general. The few criticisms that tend to be leveled against "Stromatolite" focus on the vocals, but I actually find them quite charming, sung on tune mostly in English, with affirming melodies and exalting breaks on an arsenal of keys, strings and guitars. They only appear on 4 tracks and I think the album is better for it, perhaps otherwise lost in the in the amorphous jumble of rudderless instrumental prog albums.

As is often the case with such unified works, it's unjust to single out a few prodigies from this advanced class but I'm going to go with two instrumentals and one vocal number: the Bolero like "Spiral Motion", the cinematic "Pangea" and the uplifting "Constellation". A listening experience with "Stromatolite" is like a first time rock climbing, sky diving, or perhaps most applicable, caving adventure - you get all the exhilaration but the guides never abandon you. OK one more analogy - "Stromatolite" is a generous deposit that magically appears in your musical bank account when you need it most.