SLEEPING IN TRAFFIC - PART ONE

I saw this CD in Lugansk shop somewhere between indie/pop-rock albums. Melancholic artwork made me think of something RADIOHEAD-related, so I took it from the shelf and turned on. And boy this was Prog. Need I say I bought it?

BEARDFISH are one of these bands that can turn you back to prog after a long hiatus. I had some kind of it this May, when anything Prog/Prog-related failed to catch my attention. But WICKED MINDS’ brilliant album and later this one turned back into the Family ;) . BEARDFISH sound very Scandinavish, with lush Hammond/Mellotron work, some flutes and accordions, crunchy guitars and very professional and emotional vocals. In fact, best band to compare would be SIMON SAYS (vocals are almost the same in fact!). If you heard these fellow countrymen of BEARDFISH, you already know what to expect. But wait, BEARDFISH is more different and free in style; they didn’t walk GENESIS-only path, they are like another unique Swedish band RITUAL – they try almost any genre (“Same Old Song” begins with jazzy mood and ends almost like indie- Prog epic; wonderful blues “Harmony” has some ELPish leanings – try to imagine it!), from ballads (“Without You”, “Dark Poet”) to True Symphonic (12-min epic “Roulette”). Tight musicianship, excellent quality, emotional performance and astonishing songwriting (very original) – and you got a wonderful Prog album as a result! One of the best from 2007 I guess! Symphomaniacs and Art-Rock devotees, this is yours! I meant “ours” ;)