TARDIGRADE

****1/2 I guess. Why to complicate to go nowhere? Let SIMON SAYS be 'comfortable' with tested and approved prog archetypes. Remind that to goal a pretty convincing and tasteful musical level by their 70's matrix YES, GENESIS (also STEVE HACKETT solo albuns ala "Everyday" and "Camino Royale" dynamic borrowed ideas) & etc., is far from being an easy task!

Don't get me wrong, Simon Says is absolutely not mere copycat. "Tardigrad" got successful to bring to today dynamic sonority to their 70's idols plus Flower Kings ideas. Ok, while listening it the sensation of "I have already heard this before" appears, but it's not so persistent . It'sbroken by CREATIVITY. It means, clever, tasteful, awesome ideas, so the music don't get so much looping to a sameness. My only complain is that the CD could be shorter (60 minutes is enough), learn with Gentle Giant how to say much in few words. With some cuts in excess, it would deserve 5 stars.

"Tardigrad" got some gifted magic. It's what 2000's Flower Kings or Spocks Beard have been trying, anyway many times they fail, concluding badly the compositions by taking pointless directions in a salad overdose. This is not "Tardigrad" case, as the technical skill is working to a - begin, meddle-middle and end - understandable point. Interesting fast playing, resources as vocoder, breaks, 'ghost' or 'alien' synth sound comes very well balanced. I also like Simon Says uplifting massive energy close to YES "Relayer" in the bigest track.

Since Anglagard "Hybris" though all the 90's till nowadays, we are frequently amazed by Swedish precious record productions, highly skilled performances and large cultural and background influences in compositionsI. It must exist some kind of Sorbone or Harvard prog school there ;-).

I confess I stopped to research prog since year 2002. My collection was already too big and most of what I listened after 2000 didn't impress me anymore (sameness and pointless efforts).

Some exceptions of course like IQ, Tempus Fugit "Chessboard" (2008). I know with the boom of nowadays prog productions it must exist many worth and creative prog acts. Thanks to PA and my "gutier" (guitar builder) friend for lending me his CD and presenting me Simon Says, PI2, Anima Mundi & etc. Anyway I'm steady with 70's golden age productions as the point was to research style, so rarely 70's bands borrow from ready models.