LEPIDOPTERA

Yes, 5 stars.GO AND BUY IT!!! I wish I could change something in this world. I'd give a copy of this album to every ProgHead on this site and beyond, because it is BEAUTIFUL!!!

Terribly underrated concept Masterpiece from Swiss band with weird name RAK. Don't pay much attention to the length of songs: it's a concept story more than an hour long. It's very hard to review this CD: it contains elements of almost every Prog genre - from ELP-like bombastic bits (lots of organ scattered through the album, also a lot of piano and synth sounds...very good keyboardist - he's not the centre of everything, so you can concentrate right on the music without getting angry about his immense ego ;-) ) to MARILLION-like emotional ballads (piano-only "Dream like These"); from PAIN OF SALVATION-like metal (what a singer! Imagine a mixture of FISH and that Geoff from QUEENSRYCHE!) to spacy PORCUPINE TREEish spots; from Scandinavian-like darkness to the light of more Folkish tunes...

The main basis of it all - the Holy MELODY and the blessed EMOTIONS, the very things I adore in Prog! Another recent discovery of mine along with MILLENIUM's "Interdead". This album is recommended TO ALL PROG-FANS!!! Instead of meandering into hyped average bands or devoting yourself to 70s (G)Oldies try this one!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! A MUST!!!!!!!!!

Melodic neo/symphonic journey

"Lepidoptera" is the best Marillion album that Marillion never made. Of course I don't mean to so superficially label RAK as clones when they are a fine band on their own accord, yet the point must be made that this album will appeal tremendously to fans of Hogarth-era (and even Fish era) Marillion. In my opinion this album is much more enjoyable than some of the Marillion mediocrity over the years, though not quite to the level of works like "Misplaced Childhood" or "Brave." The work is an emotional and sprawling study of change and the human condition, via the life of a girl as well as in secondary metaphor through the incredible migration of the monarch butterfly.

As Ivan notes in his bio RAK inhabit a strange space between neo-prog and modern symphonic progressive and is something of a missing link between the two. To my ears though it is somewhat closer to neo-prog in the feel of the material. The album is an hour long conceptual work broken into two acts and twenty short tracks, but really it flows along as one complete piece, the different songs dissolving into the next one.

The two main personalities of the basic RAK sound come from the work of composer and keyboardist Marc Grassi and lyricist/vocalist Dave Thwaites. Grassi's work cannot be understated: "Lepidoptera" is a wonderful set of compositions filled with memorable melodies, long peaceful interludes, aggressive bursts of energy, good cohesion and "flow." His work on the keys is solid and diverse, from the lovely shades of background "color" to the beautiful sections of piano (or synth piano?whatever it is!) to the nice array of modern energetic synth. Thwaites has a unique voice that reminds me of Hogarth but it comes with a more energetic, sometimes defiant sounding delivery. I've not seen him sing in video but I'd guess he is a somewhat theatrical performer, or at least physically expressive in his performance. The rest of the band is solid as well, fine drumming, expressive and juicy lead guitar work. It's a combination of music that is very pretty at times and emotionally charged, even frantic at times, as the themes of the songs shift from exploring the lighter and darker sides of the subjects. Soft melodic piano interludes such as "Dreams Like These" counter modern, pulsing synths sounds and distorted guitar chords in the rocking sections. "Metamorphosis:three" is also a cool section with this repeating synth motif over very subtle drumming, rumbling low end, and a lengthy but low-key guitar improvisation. Even the softer, almost new-age feel of the keys and programmed-sounding rhythms of "Those Bright Wings" works beautifully in a relaxing way. A bit of something for everyone in terms of tone and mood.

It's nice the way the album leaves room for "drift", some ideas are clearly obvious, but others seemingly develop from simply being given space, it doesn't feel like they are just trying to get you from one chorus/catchy part to the next as other modern prog seems hell-bent on doing. The many transitions on this album are handled quite skillfully. There is room for more sound treats however. This album credits a violinist but I think a long conceptual work could benefit from more strings or some different instrumentalists or more vocal variation. The production is also less than perfect but certainly respectable.

"Lepidoptera" is quite good in my estimation though well short of a masterpiece, I'd place it over three stars, not quite four, but enough to round up to four. The tri-fold insert features some gorgeous artwork from Mark Wilkinson, on both sides of all panels. Really nice touch. "Lepidoptera" is an album that will please many and I'm really surprised it has slipped below the radar of the site's many Neo-prog fans. Fans of modern day symphonic and crossover prog, things like Moon Safari, Phideaux, and Magic Pie, may also do well to track down this recording. Those into metal and harsh/dissonant prog can safely pass on this.

RAK are a Swiss band who are listed here as Symphonic but there is also a Neo-Prog flavour to their music that can't be ignored. I must admit as a reviewer who does so track by track it's always disappointing to see albums with 20 songs on it like this one (haha). At least many of them blend into one another.Themes are repeated as well throughout this 2004 release. And no I didn't know that girls grew on trees.

"To The Refuge" is led by keyboards and drums early and it's fairly heavy until 2 minutes in when the vocals arrive and it settles down.The tempo will continue to shift on this one. A good start. "Metamorphosis:One" is not nearly as good as the opener but it's okay. "Metamorphosis:Two" features almost spoken vocals as synths,organ and drums help out. "Coming To Terms" picks up as the organ joins in followed by vocals then guitar part way through. "Lepidoptera:Freefall" is a short piece that picks up speed as it goes. "Lepidoptera:Beast" is fairly heavy while "Lepidoptera:Savage" opens with keys before a heavy sound including drums kicks in.

"Dreams Like These" opens with piano then synths and violin come in before a minute.Vocals before 2 1/2 minutes. "The Consequences" opens with the synths swirling as heavy drums join in.Vocals after a minute. "Metamorphosis:Three" opens with piano and cymbals then guitar joins in. "Those Bright Wings" opens with piano before vocals and a beat join in. "Last Words" is fairly laid back with vocals then tasteful guitar and floating organ comes in. "Requiem" continues with the floating organ while female vocal melodies join in.This is good. Piano, vocals and drums before a minute. "Flashback" has some energy with organ and vocals. "Bumblebee Chase" is mellow with piano. "Play Possum" continues with the piano melodies. "Preperation" continues with piano still. "Departure" has these drums, piano and synths that standout. Organ too then vocals arrive after a minute as it settles down. "Migration" opens with piano then vocals. It gets fuller and more passionate. Some nice guitar too. "Release" features piano, organ, vocals and a beat. A calm before 2 1/2 minutes as piano only plays to the end.

A pretty good album overall but it fails to capture my imagination. If your into concept albums and melodic music you might want to check this out.

Rak is a band forgotten from Switzerland. I said forgotten, but after almost a decade they released in 2012 their second album.

Lepidoptera (2004) is a great Symphonic Prog release weirdly made out of 20 short tracks. We're often used to 5 tracks albums and songs over 15 minutes long. Not here. Even their 'Lepidoptera'song, divided into three parts is short (less than 5 minutes).

A curious fact about the band is that they have a touch guitar player in the lineup (Tobias Reber).

Rak (2004) deserves a good listening. This is a good album forgotten into the digital shelves of our modern times. Go for it.

From the ashes of Swiss prog band Thonk comes this act, headlined by ex-Thonk keyboardist Mark Grassi and grounded in the Solothurn area. Dave Thwaites on vocals, drummer Mike Liechti, guitarists Sam Siegenthaler and Tobias Reber completed the original Rak crew.Their debut ''Lepidoptera'' saw the light in 2004 on Circle Records.This was a double-concept release with the first story refering to the migratory journey of a monarch called Butterfly from North America to the South and Mexico and the second one telling about the life journey of a girl who is forced to change to survive and escape a life of fear, abuse and brokenness.

Musically the album goes along the lines of bands like SPOCK'S BEARD, MAGIC PIE or MARS HOLLOW, an effort by the group to come up with a refreshing sound of the 70's Classic Prog style.The musicianship is much driven by the diverse keyboard work of Grassi and the dual strong guitar lines of Siegenthaler/Teber and moves from great and bombastic organ-led Heavy Prog cuts, always with a modern edge, to Neo/Symphonic pyrotechnics with synths and guitar solos on the front.The nice amount of powerful breaks and the overall dynamic performance are sure to satisfy lovers of huge prog sounds.A few electronic beats and smooth ballad-like moments added let the album breathe sufficiently.Of course this is not the most original touch on prog's community, influences by the masters like GENESIS and E.L.P. are more than evident, the singer though has a decent and very expressive voice unlike many bands of the modern prog age.

''Lepidoptera'' belongs among the good albums of the new progressive movement.Without being anything close to a masterwork, it remains a work full of well-executed arrangements and a deep conceptual atmosphere.Any fan of Classic Prog, Neo/Symphonic Prog or Retro-Prog should give Rak a try.