CHUPACABRAS

"Chupacabras" is their fourth studio record, and is actually made up of unfinished songs from the past, or songs that weren't right for past records. As Phideaux says this record "is a repository for all those difficult orphan songs". To say these are just second rate leftovers would not only be wrong, but the opposite is actually the truth. The song "Chupacabras" was originally to be on the "Fiendish" record, but they decided it "would overshadow and consume what was hoped would be a more easily digestible album". So it was dropped from that project before it was completed. And so with the trilogy, songs 5-7 were to be on the "Ghost Story" record but were left off "another case of a song consuming the vibe of an album" says Phideaux. The final song "Titan" was started during the "Fiendish" effort but never finished and Phideaux says that this song is "The gemstone among the spoils". So these are not only great songs, but there is a continuity that you wouldn't normally get with such a project.

"Okay" is like an instrumental opening for "Chupacabras". The song "Titan" is a reprise to the song "Fortress of Sand'. And of course there is the trilogy. Which really leaves "Party" as the one that doesn't seem to belong.

Now to the music. The song "Okay" is a short 2 minute intro that begins with heavy organ followed by flute and male and female singing without words. The self titled song "Chupacaras" is an epic with lots of time changes, male and female singing, flute, mellotron, piano, samples, sax, organ, synths, cello, guitars and drums. It all works perfectly for an awesome song, all 20 minutes of it. The song "Party" has an eighties feel to it. "Fortress Of Sand" begins with mellotron, then Phideaux singing which sounds processed here, very ambient. Then some beautiful gentle guitar and piano. It's mostly instumental.The trilogy is loud and proud, it smokes. Theatrical vocals as well. This trilogy is about the "Dark examination of self disillusion and the death of ego". And then we have the last song "Titan". This is my favourite song on the record, it has such a PORCUPINE TREE feel to it.

4.5 stars.

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