ALYA

This 2-CD (each one contains 8 tracks) is a religious concept from a Swiss musical project. I immediately recognized the high pitched English vocals with that accent and the clear and sensitive guitar sound from the two ex-Clepsydra members, so distinctive! CD1 starts with "Sunset" featuring a moving gypsy-like violin solo, then we can enjoy a dynamic rhythm-section as a support for wonderful Hammond, Mellotron and clavinet sounds. The climates changes from slow to swinging and bombastic, SPLENDID PROG! The next track "Lost angels" is very alternating: dreamy with piano and beautiful vocals, mid-tempo with sensitive guitarwork and a grand finale delivering a symphonic walhalla with orchestral keyboards and a choir. I was blown away by the tension between the gypsy-like violin and the harder-edged guitar riffs. The song "Starless nights" contain fragile acoustic guitar and nature sounds, followed by the alternating and compelling "Seals" (fiery electric guitar and bombastic keyboards). The short titletrack (part 1) has a classical climate with a church organ intro, harp and violin. Halfway we hear a trumpet and in the final part a short but fiery electric guitar solo. "The first inquisition" is alternating and bombastic featuring Ayreon-like heavy guitarplay and organ work in the vein of early Earth & Fire. Halfway there is a magnificent violin solo, VERY MOVING! The final track from CD1 "Pain?" (part 1) is atmospheric with dreamy piano and vocals. CD2 opens with Pain? (part 2), a bit cacophonic with strange sounds and trumpet. Then a different story in the next song entitled "Sentence": the moods shifts from metal-ballad to bombastic progrock (evoking early MARILLION) with great, dramatic vocals, splendid guitar play, what a dynamic progrock! In "The dark kingdom" Shakary urprises us with a sound collage and then changing climates delivering fiery guitar and distorted vocals. The intro of "The last drink contains first all kinds of synthesizer sounds and then prog-metal with hints from Ayreon including a wonderful violin solo. The second part of the titletrack "Alya" starts with applause and drum beats, then fiery and flowing electric gutiar play, again aplause and finally climates that changes from dreamy to bombastic, propelled by a great rhythm-section. The swinging "Babylon" has a fat bass sound an could have been a single because of the polished structure. "New angels" has dreamy vocals, twanging guitars and soaring keyboards. I enjoyed the swinging break featuring the distinctive clavinet sound. The final track from CD2 is the dynamic "Open skies" featuring lots of changing climates with bombastic Mellotron and Minimoog, surprising trumpet sounds, fiery electric guitar and swirling violin, MARVELLOUS! If you like alternating neo-prog, this one is yours. By the way, on the back cover Shakary is very grateful to God because of the mankind inventions of the Mellotron, Hammond and Minimoog ....