TIMECODE

Third album named Time code of this unknown neo prog band from Germany. Hmm, this time Chandelier needs 5 years to come with another album, this one and is not as good as the predecesor for sure. Quite enough time to come with something great or at least good, but this time Chandelier proves that they are running out of ideas. While the album is not bad, has some good moments in places some very strong ones but the overall atmosphere and the tempo of the album is rather dull and without that passion of Facing gravity. With Time code they enter in the same league with the mediocre bands from this genre, same arrangements , same vocal parts, same tempo of the pieces to much mid tempo without bursting out at leats on one or two pieces. Martin Eden the vocalist , who I realy like him on previous work this time sound tired and with not a lot of passion, only on some 3-4 traks is good, on the rest is nothing realy something worth intrest. Now the main man behind this album isthe guitar player Udo Lang, he did all the hard work here and is clear that is a good guitarist and a great songwritter, on some pieces is realy good like on Half Empty, Half Fool, the beggining of the piece is offered by 3 min of instrumntal music and truly shies there, excellent , another highlight is the last track called Mountain High, the reat of the pieces are from mediocre to little good. For ex Have a break beggins like I'm listning some Queen Hot space era, the drums sound horrible, typical '80's. As a whole now the band sounds more towards AOR combined with neo prog, not far from Saga or Asia fame, the keys are rather in background and only sustained the atmosphere , no more that special moments from Facing gravity. I don't quite understand how was possible to release such a mediocre album when you had 5 years for rehersal composing and other arrangements, and is far from previous album, they are now a tired band with no more vein to play, no wonder is their last album, soon after Time code in 1998 they disbanded. Sad, because was a promising band from german lands who offered at least one great album from the three of their career. I will give to Time code 2 stars, well rounded up to 2.5 , a weak album but not realy a disaster.