AWAKING THE MUSE

2009 is a good year for what we call (because of lack of better terms) Neo-prog. Also, as has been already said, this is Holland. And what more, it's collaboration between some of the finest ones. I'm not sure if it's wise to give automatically 5-star then, just because of this, so I'll stay cold for a little longer.

You like symphonic ? You'll like it, there's not reason why not. Vocals are fine (even I can't judge whether his accent is so bad, or not), sound is mature (even it's basically debut) and variable. That's what I like a lot, when album has a lot of elements that makes music, inside. And interesting, original lyrics and themes (Shop Window Dummies). Songs are long, something similar what we could hear in Flamborough Head's work, so except long, dreamy guitar solos. But isn't this getting all to much the same ? I mean it's good music and they're trying, but there's not much space for true creativity. It's dignified successor and maybe it's just me, becoming more and more filled by all this Neo-prog work I've been recently listening too, but maybe there's more. Nevermind, let's be fair and give

4(+), which they for sure deserves.