RITES AT DAWN

As others have mentioned the YES flavour is strong on this album.There's plenty of Steve Howe-like guitar melodies and the vocals recall Jon Anderson but they almost sound like a cross between him and Niklas Barker (ANEKDOTEN). The Rickenbacker bass is all over this in a Squire-like fashion. Having said all this you'll notice the 5 star rating, it's because this is an incredible album from beginning to end despite the apparent hero worship.The drumming is fantastic as well and there is also more mellotron on this baby than their past two records. Bottom line is that "Rites At Dawn" has a sound that reminds me of that Scandanavian,mellotron drenched melancholy that I love combined with that seventies Symphonic Prog that YES did so well. A match made in heaven. And the sound quality couldn't be better.

"Ludic" opens in an atmospheric manner as the sound builds then settles late. "La Bealtaine" has prominant guitar, bass and drums as the organ joins in. It settles back some with mellotron then kicks back in with vocals. Howe-like guitar 2 minutes in.The organ and mellotron after 3 1/2 minutes are brief as the vocals return and lead. "In Orbit" opens with strummed guitar before it kicks in at a minute. A calm with vocals before 2 minutes then it kicks back in with chunky bass, guitar and drums.Vocals follow. Another calm with acoustic guitar then the vocals join in as it gets fuller. More great sounding bass follows. Howe-like guitar 8 1/2 minutes in then a calm returns a minute later as it builds with vocals and more.

"This Past Presence" opens with acoustic guitar and flute as reserved vocals join in. Piano too then mellotron. It kicks in before 2 minutes. Nice. I like the guitar here. A calm before 3 minutes then mellotron a minute later. Vocals, piano and bass lead 4 1/2 minutes in. It kicks in at 5 minutes reminding me of ANEKDOTEN with that storm of mellotron. "A Faerie's Play" opens with delicate sounds then it kicks in reminding me of the MOODY BLUES.The mellotron, bass and drums sound great before 2 minutes. It's YES-like around 3 1/2 minutes and vocals follow.The vocals remind me of ANEKDOTEN after 4 1/2 minutes.

"The River" opens with some excellent sounding organ, bass and drums.The guitar then comes to the fore followed by a calm before 1 1/2 minutes. Piano and reserved vocals here. Pure emotion after 2 1/2 minutes with mellotron as it builds. It settles again but not for long. Another calm before 6 minutes then it slowly builds again.Vocals are back 8 minutes in.This is so freaking good. "Lucid Dreams" ends it with a dreamy atmosphere.

For me WOBBLER has hit a homerun with this album. Right from the first listen I knew this was special and it gets better with each listen. So impressive !