MONTPELLIER

As I can imagine, many Progsters would not like such marriage of Symphonic bride and Country broom, but not me. I like them (maybe even more because I know they are rather underdogs in terms of popularity). So after enjoying boxset album, first two albums from first generation of Wally, I was craving for more. Thus came Montpellier. However, to put it bluntly, I don't like it. Sounds here are more or less adequate, but something doesn't add up. It's as if this music didn't work there and feeling that I cannot relate to these tracks, that they fail to attract me doesn't help at all. Yet I'm not exactly sure why this album fails. More mainstream sound perhaps (in a ballad way), even more than their first two, lack of "strong" song, or perhaps epic of some kind. She Said sounds like half soloing, half Coldplay for example.

Review originally posted at www.therocktologist.com

Wally is a band from the United States who had released a couple of albums in the seventies. After a long gap, they came back with new material in 2009, and in 2010 released this album entitled "Montpellier", which consists of eight songs that make a total time of 54 minutes. The songs duration range from 6 to 8 minutes each.

The album kicks off with "Sailor", a track with a great atmosphere that let us imagine the trip of precisely, a sailor. The first introductory minute is interesting, with environmental landscape. Later the voice enters and creates with piano a delicate and ballad-like sound which later is progressing and creating a kind of soft neo-prog sound, very light, if you ask me. A couple of minutes later it changes and the rock element is much more evident here, with also an extra amount of energy and a more interesting sound.

"Sister Moon" starts again with the environment sound, like being in the ocean. Then just like in the previous track, a soft, charming and ballad-like song starts.. Later it progresses and adds new elements that give it the entrance to the progressive rock realm, to its lightest side, actually. The lyrics are cool and in moments easy to sing. After four minutes there is a good guitar riff which is greatly accompanied by the other instruments.

"Thrill's Gone" has a very 80s sound, reminding me of some hard rock bands. The song is pretty catchy, with nice keyboards and a great implement of female vocals as back. A guitar riff comes later, but the rhythm and the structure are the same all the time. Nice if you want to move your body for some minutes. "Surfing" has a nice introductory minute with organ and soft vocals; later drums and a "tick-tock" sang appear and the song begin to build up a new structure. After two minutes it explodes and becomes rockier and more emotional due to the vocals, but also to the higher volume of the instruments. I cannot help but remembering Dire Straits here (and actually in previous tracks also), they have a very alike flavor. Later there is a brief but worth mentioning instrumental part where a delicious violin is implemented. Then the song returns to its original structure and finishes like that.

With "In the Night", the soft, pop and dreamy atmosphere comeback. But well, what I like of Wally is that their songs are not plain at all, because they are always changing in rhythm and mood, creating a nice mixture of sounds and emotions. In this track that can be perceived when it changes from that soft ballad to a rockier tune, where guitars make a great work accompanied by constant drums, accurate bass and a good keyboard background; the vocals are not memorable to be honest, but they are good enough to complement the music (both, the front male, and the back female).

"Human" starts with guitar and then the other instruments join. Here we can listen to a soft progressive rock, in the neo-prog side. The best of it is the addition of the violin because it adds a beautiful texture to the already good atmosphere created by keyboards. At minute three where the guitar solo appears we receive a charming hug, I mean, the music is so gentle that one can only be happy with it. Later where the vocals return they put a more emotional sensation, producing the sense of freedom.

"She Said" is one of my favorite tracks here, and I dare say one of Montpellier's finest moments. The music has a slow tempo, a delicate piano perfectly accompanied by the soft and mellow voice and delicious percussion. Through the minutes they are adding new elements such as nuances produced by keyboards and sweet guitars. The mood is pretty peaceful, and though the sound is like a ballad (like a combination of Tears for Fears and Roger Water's Amused to Death), I really like it. After some minutes the intensity increases a little bit, drums are added instead of the sweet percussion and a (once again) light rock is presented here. Back female chorus can be also heard in the last minute.

And the album finishes with "Giving" which is the longest composition here. It starts with a distant and atmospheric violin that produces a calm sound. Half a minute later drums enter along with acoustic guitar and nice keyboards. A smooth sound is produced in the whole track, where we can perceive the band's emotions and charm.

Well, the album is good without a doubt, cool for some few listens when you want something calm and relaxing, but that's it. I honestly cannot say I love it, but I enjoyed some parts nonetheless.

Enjoy it!