MISSA ATROPOS

I honestly had no preset expectations for Gazpacho's latest "Missa Atropos." It was meant to be a mass for the goddess Atropos, so how could I possibly know how what that is supposed to sound like?

When I first played Missa Atropos, I must say that nothing stood out, but as I kept at it, more and more started to reveal itself. This is not a casual album that plays well in the background; it won't try to overpower your lack of attention with the usual "hey, listen to me!" bombast. Missa Atropos doesn't need to - you need to overpower it with YOUR attention to unlock its secrets.

Once fed into a deserving sound system, and lavished it with the right volume and enjoying the right red wine, you will start realizing how truly exceptional this album really is. It's easily Gazpacho's most cohesive release; the production is immaculate, and all the instruments are perfectly blended. This is a band without egos that has hit their stride in terms of musical maturity and creativity.

Is this for everybody? No, because it takes work to delve into what is being presented here, because it's in the subtleties and shadows where this album shines brightly. Is this better than their masterpiece Night? Night is a different animal and it has some very obvious strengths, and plays better on the first listen. I do have to say that now that Missa Atropos has "clicked" with me I prefer its dramatic sense of self. Where Night is the musical equivalent of an impressionist painting, Missa is like a walk through clouds where objects only reveal themselves when you get up close and personal. When all is said and done, I think it's the best thing this band has ever done.

Bravo Gazpacho, for the music over the years, and thank you for Missa Atropos!

Another great album by Norwegian band Gazpacho and a worthy successor of "Tick Tock". This album has an hypnotic and persuasive vibe to it. Missa Atropos is a haunting, hypnotic concept album dealing with themes of fear, loneliness and death. It tells the tale of one man who separates himself from society and isolates himself in a lighthouse, "with only the sea and his mind for company," to write a mass for the goddess Atropos. This album is that mass and like the sea itself, it is deep, dark and fascinating. A great disc if you love prog. Do not miss this one!

Gazpacho's latest album, 'Missa Atropos' is just incredible. Scratch beneath the surface on several listens and what appears reasonably simple belies an underlying complexity in song structure and musical arrangement. They showed great potential on their debut 'Bravo' , then after a few years they came of age with 'Night'. 'Tick Tock' cemented their maturity in the prog world and I didn't really think they could better that album.

But in the same way that Radiohead went one better after 'Bends' with 'OK Computer', Gazpacho have done the same with 'Missa Atropos'. This is their 'OK Computer' and their 'Dark Side of the Moon' in my opinion and tracks like Defense Mechanism, Splendid Isolation and the eponymous Missa Atropos ably demonstrate just how far Gazpacho have come in terms of shaking off the Marillion wannabe image and actually presenting this listener with the album that Marillion should have made in the last 10 years but have never quite managed to hit the spot.

Fabulous melodies, dreamlike vocals, underlying themes connected throughout an album that is greater than the sum of it's individual parts - wholly coherent and deserving of repeated listening! The album of 2010 for me!

So Gazpacho did it again. After quite odd one "Tick Tock", I see this as successor (in quality) of my favourite "Night". There are few important changes though. While "Night" is cold beauty, this record has soul and finally, Norway enjoys a little bit of sunny, warm touch. Singing remains the same (vocalist is not improving, he's just doing the same quality of work again - not exactly raspy, but it's not exactly clean [and it's good thing that it isn't, because such kind of voice fits here, tender and somehow post-rockish performance to be honest) and atmosphere is heavy (like before the rain, you simply know that something is going to happen).

Here, beautiful music happens. It seems like I'm giving myself big share of (this kind of) music lately. But it seems that I cannot be fed up with it. 4th time in a row and still liking it, I'm actually finding new things to admire on this record. Melodic part is more important here than on Night also, yet songs are as trippy as before.

5(-), to be honest, I was at first careful about this record, because I saw only two 5-star reviews here. I'm always cautious when there is big enthusiasm of previous reviewers (will this meet my standards ? my demands ? my dreams also ?), but I find this one worthy of "the best" part of 2010 releases. But they were right and there is really something special about it.

Miss Atropos, Mass, Missa, Misantrophos whatever you want it to be, it's not L'Enfant Terrible like Nightingale used to be, but rather it's like comparing ice (Night) to water (Missa Atropos). I wonder what will come next.

I usually don't like simplistic pop records with big doze of stereotype electronics, teenage melancholy and slightly prog-spiced on the surface to look attractive for music lovers, who likes pop, but wanst to look intellectual enough listening pseudo-prog. But this album is on the top of PA Albums Top for 2010 today (Oct.11, 2010), so I decided to give them a chance.

First of all I must to mention I am not a teenager, live in big European town, got a good education and seriously listen music for last 30+ years. So obviously I am not a member of this release's target group. What means my review is in fact just a very marginal one. But I know I'm not alone between prog lovers with similar biography, so I just decided to put on paper few comments on this album.

First of all, this album is listenable, and it's good! Yes, vocalist has very specific voice and sings just one song during all album, but musicians on the back trying hard to make this song as much different, as they can. OK, they are far not in Top-1000 best musicians in the world, but at least they are trying!

Result is quite acceptable - music is melancholic, dreamy, mid tempo, but with good sound mix. Even heavy their fun will hardly find two differences between any two songs on that album, but who cares? If Radiohead music sounds too intellectual for you and Coldplay didn't put few "proggy" samples on their songs to be counted as " near progressive", possibly this album is what you need. For sure, drumming machine could be better programmed, but... who cares?

Yellow autumn leaves falling down in small provincial town's park... Days are still sunny, but nights are cold yet. It's so nice to watch on last sun's shines before it will be almost dark...

So romantic, isn't it? And so accessible...

Good but non esential.Why? Because if you know "Night" and "Tick Tock" , this album won't bring you anything new, just more of the same(nothing memorable, if I hear one song I am not able to say from which album it's taken, and if you are half listening to the album you might get the impression you hear the same song again and again).So if you really really like this stuff, go for it.If you haven't heard of Gazpacho, try first "Tick Tock" which I consider their top until now. I am an eclectic listener(clasic, jazz, prog) , I find this album good(music, production), but no more than this.

Gazpacho are a phenomenon! Their music is addicting people whether they listen to prog, post, pop, alternative music. whether they are 15 or 70 years old. Missa Atropos is the most mellow album they have done so far. With that dark story they create - as always - huge pictures in your head and this time they put more heaviness in songs like "Defense Mechanism" , "River" or "Splendid Isolation". With less Violin in it, it is compensated by atmospheric keys and lovely guitar lines. As said they have the ability to create pictures in your head as long as you are willing and able to listen to it and fade out all other things around you. A dreamlike work again and by far totally different to Tick Tock and Night. Bravo Gazpacho

Man this band is on a roll with three excellent albums in a row now. From 2007's "Night" to "Tick Tock" and now "Missa Atropos". Like the last album this is a concept album, this one's about a man who seeks to satisfy the Greek goddess Atropos with a mass he creates for her in an abandoned lighthouse. Atropos apparently in Greek mythology is the one who decides when and how you die. I'm sure the mass was fantastic. As usual with Norway's GAZPACHO we get that melancholic laid back mood with lots of atmosphere. By the way there is a new drummer for this one.

"Mass For Atropos" opens with atmosphere and signal sounds like we are in space. A transmission can be heard in the background. Keys, vocals and more follow. Lots of atmosphere as usual. "Defense Mechanism" opens with vocals and drums.The guitar arrives as it kicks in, then it settles back again as contrasts continue. I like when it builds with vocals before 5 1/2 minutes. "I Was Never Here" opens with keys, vocals and cymbals. Atmosphere too. Drums after a minute as it settles in and vocals continue. Nice. "Snail" puts the focus on the vocals but there's lots of sound and atmosphere.The guitar, drums and bass standout when the vocals stop. "River" opens with percussion and keys then vocals come in before a minute. It's more powerful before 2 minutes but not for long although these contrasts continue. It's building after 5 minutes to end it. Great stuff. "Mass For Artopos II" opens with atmosphere and piano. Sounds like mellotron. Amazing ! At the end this woman can be heard speaking out different numbers just like at the end of the "Even Less" by PORCUPINE TREE.

"Missa Atropos" sounds incredible as the vocals speak the lyrics. So much atmosphere. Strings after 2 minutes when the vocals stop. He's back and singing as the tempo picks up. I love when it settles back again. Heavy after 5 minutes especially the guitar. "She's Awake" is mellow with keys to start.Vocals before 1 1/2 minutes. It starts to pick up some 2 minutes in. Strings a minute later with plenty of atmosphere. "Vera" opens with intricate drumming, guitar and keys. Vocals before a minute. It then turns fuller. Nice bass before 3 minutes. Great sound 5 1/2 minutes in. Piano only ends it. "Will To Live" opens with keys and vocals. Atmosphere rolls in then bass, guitar and drums. "Mass For Atropos III" sounds like a male choir or mellotron choirs. Whatever it is it sounds so good. "Splendid Isolation" opens with sounds that echo and atmosphere. A beat with vocals before a minute. Strings too. Some nice bass and it's heavier before 3 1/2 minutes. It settles back then gets heavy again as contrasts continue. "An Audience" opens with guitar, vocals and a beat. A very relaxed sound. It's fuller 1 1/2 minutes in. Piano only ends it.

GAZPACHO seem to be a band like PINEAPPLE THIEF that has many detractors.This is very latter day MARILLION sounding but more dynamic and I love it.

An album with many ratings, but surprisingly few reviews, Norwegian band Gazpacho have come up trumps with their latest release, Missa Atropos, and this is an album which I hope will win them many more fans and friends.

The subject of the album, the Greek Goddess of fate and destiny Atropos, chose the method of death and ended the life of each mortal in mythology. Hardly light stuff, then, but Gazpacho manage that delicate balancing act of making a serious concept album that is also accessible very deftly. For instance, the opening Mass For Atropos (Part One) leads us as a well performed entree into the main album, and when Defence Mechanism starts the album proper, what we have is a very tightly performed, highly enjoyable slice of rock with clear progressive sensibilities and a terrific, almost Gothic, atmosphere.

This remains the mood throughout much of what follows. It does, however, manage to avoid being a depressing work, but, instead, takes us through a journey of one man's infatuation with the subject in a sympathetic and interesting manner.

All of the musicians perform extremely well as a unit, which is something that is to be expected from a band that has been performing as long as this now. I also think that Jan-Henrik Ohme's vocals get better with each and every release. His performance, and the intense backing from the band on the marvellous Snail, is sensational, and this should, in a fairer world, be a contender for hit single status. His performance on the title track is simply hypnotic, with violin adding a folky feel prior to the incredible riffing that closes. Similarly, She's Awake has three and a half minutes of Scandinavian beauty.

Fans of outfits such as Radiohead in their more accessible moments (the title track is clearly richly influenced by them), Porcupine Tree, and the rather obvious Marillion (Hogarth era), will find a lot to enjoy in this album. As regards the latter, their influence is everywhere, which is hardly a great surprise given the close links the bands have enjoyed since the outset of Gazpacho's career. Indeed, tracks such as River, a thoughtful six minute opus, and Vera, would certainly not have been out of place on the Happiness Is The Road album. They manage a similar trick to my favourite band, in that tracks and music of overt simplicity belie what are, in fact, complex and deep structures.

A very good album, this gets four stars. I earnestly hope that it provides the catapult to bigger success that this group thoroughly deserve.

I'll be up-front right from the start. I can't tell whether my continued lukewarm response to this album is because there's only so much of this sound one can take or because it is genuinely inferior to the two previous GAZPACHO masterpieces, 'Night' and 'Tick Tock.' But lukewarm I am, sadly, as this band is at the forefront of the ongoing prog revival. This album, in my opinion, simply isn't as good as its immediate predecessors.

Where 'Night' and 'Tick Tock' flowed, this album is stop-start. Where they soared, this one remains mired. Where their previous lyrics haunted, these are bland. I loved the way their previous two albums ebbed and flowed like an ocean. This album is a bit like a series of disconnected ponds, pretty but not powerful. There are few exalted moments. 'Snail', I suppose, is not bad. They manage to sound a little bit like RADIOHEAD and even incorporate some PORCUPINE TREE-sounding sections, but these don't lift the album to the heights I expect. Multiple listens do not yield this album's secret heart to me. Perhaps my ears have turned to cloth.

I'm misleading you a little here. This is a very good album. But it is the sound of a band treading water and not quite succeeding. It's worth a listen, but whenever my thoughts turn to GAZPACHO my fingers reach for 'Tick Tock' or 'Night'. Can't help myself.

Solid but uninspired.

Well, after about 10 listenings, this album still barely reaches a two star verdict for me. I only heard about them through Classic Rock pres. Prog, and then I saw it in the record store and decided to go for it. Besides, it was on K-scope, a label I respect. A label with great Artists on it e.g.. PT, Steven Wilson, Anathema, The Engineers, etc. It's just that no particular song stands out for me. The whole album seems rather bland. Personally, I'm not crazy about the singing. It has a little lilting whinniness to it similar to Radiohead- just not my thing usually. The guitar and drums stand out a little stronger, and I really like the violin. The album is well packaged with great artwork, but the all essential music falls short. I cannot yet claim that the band holds no interest for me, for I have not heard their previous works. I will still like to give them a chance, but if much of their music is very similar to this album, then they will probably collect a little dust on my CD shelf

The most recent album from these Norwegians.

Gazpacho has garnered a pretty large following down in the European continent. I can understand why. Their blend of Radiohead and Marillion is a probably sheer dynamite live. Something a couple of Youtube videos has confirmed. And it is as a live band they have got their good reputation. In this internet sensations age, that is a highly admireable thing.

On this studio album and on studio albums in general, Gazpacho does not really manage to capture and bottle their live spirit. By all means; Missa Atropos is a very good album with some really good songs. Their Radiohead/Marillion sound is really great too.

The problem I have with Missa Atropos is the lack of one or more signature tracks. And I have given this album a lot of time. Both on some walks, in my office and in my home. I cannot really find any great songs here. But the music is by all means great. But missing is one or more great songs. Hence, I am not able to give this album the credit it could have gotten.

A very good album which is missing a vital ingredient.

3.5 stars

Gazpacho continue the fine traditionthan Norweigan musiciabs have for stretching the boundries of genres; whwter ir be Jazz, post-rock or anything else.

album 6 - once again a concept album - once again ethereal and beautiful This is an imaginative band, with a myriad of influences filtered and distilled tocreateaunique musicalf orm of their own. We have a warm, emotive vocalist together withtalenred muscians who are capable of weaving a unique sonic tapestry. No doubt, those of you whohavelistend willhereamyriadof influences and/or comparisons withotherbands pat and present..... I hear some similarities withother artists on the K-Scope 'Post-progresive' label ...and hear hints of many other conteporaryacts too - listen for yourself - many peoples eem to pickout unusua lcomparisons when listening to this unusual scandinavian act .... who manage to still maintain ordinary lives with full-time jobs alongside producing some wonderful music

Gazpacho - Missa Atropos (8/10)

So teamwork is not always a good idea. This album had everything to be a groundbreak, a great concept, great themes but you go throug it with a feeling that something is missing, that it lacks an important piece and, in fact, there's a bitter aftertaste since the lyrics are very strong and the music just don't do justice to it.

The album starts with a good intro, not too long and one of the few "intro" parts that really introduce you to the main themes of the album. When the collage of sounds is over vocals and drums attack our ears with my favorite track "Defense mechanism". This is the most cohesive song in the album in therms of music and lyrics, and, although it's quite "prog" there's no solo here, the emphasys is on the collective, and it works really fine. So after a killer track the mood goes down with "I was never here" and "Snails" more pop oriented with catchy choruses and harmonies. "River" is another song that just don't make it, followed by the moody (and quite filler too) "Missa atropus" and by then it looks like the initial impact of the album is gone, altought the lenghty songs like "Splendid isolation" and "Vera" gives us great moments. The "action" on the album is on those most lenghty tracks, the shorter are quite moody and concept oriented.

The concept itself it really touched me, and i don't want to spoil the surprise, but it's an interisting tale of isolation and loneliness, highly inspired by american transcendentalists like Emerson, Thoreau, and even the postmodern Paul Auster. So the judgment is: too much teamwork and focus on the concept don't make it without memorable moments and it realy lacks here giving us the promisse that soon we'll hear their masterpiece.

Boring, melancholic and depressive. Nothing here for ears to catch. No great melodies, no great feelings, no great musiv at all. Monotonous sounds that keep me yawning. During 4-5 listenings to this I had only one thought: when does it end? And when it finally ended I was like "Thank you, Universe!". I liked previous album by Gazpacho, but this one is just too slow and unmemorable. For a band called by the name of spanish soup, Gazpacho is extremely boring and doleful. This band has a wrong name. It's nice music for a sleep time, though. But even in that case I prefer some melodic new age or something....

Sorry, I have been running (more like power-walking) three days in a row with this on my iPod (I still have one) and my decision is made: I don't like It.

This is what Muzak does to Prog Rock. Nothing remarkable happens here and I don't remember not a piece of the melodies nd the same is to say of the Lyrics.

Maybe some other time I will listen again this album and I will like It. In the meantime I'll go somewhere else to look for music.

I suppose this is what they call progressive rock this days. I am too old for this s...

Gazpacho is a band that divides the listener circle even within Crossover Prog due to not always ambitious music, calmer textures and flirting with pop. The band have their undisputable qualities in their vocals, compositional skills and production work. I don't know how one of their CDs ended up in my collection and despite my skepticism, it has grown on me after several listens. The vocal has something melancholic but warm in its colour, instruments are played professionally and with emotions as witnessed in "Defense Mechanism". Keyboards in their music have ranged from multitude of synths, piano to organ, here we have a fitting electric piano in the background. "I was never here" has a light, reflective feeling with soothing vocals, subtle guitars and electric piano. "River mass for antropos 2" has a dark, disappointed spirit and great, epic-like chords, is one of the most progressive parts. "Splendid isolation" has a good cresciendo with a bit repetitive motive. Even after several listens, I can't discern songs that much and can't concentrate purely on music, it is more of a background soothing music with its quality. I rate this with 3 stars for it will certainly will its fans that like quiter, reflective but quite some depth.

- Review #24 -

The first time I heard about this band was back when their fourth album, Night, was released. One of my friends recommended me that five-track work while we were talking. I didn't like them, but for some reason I wanted them to click on me, they had a very defined style and their ambience truly had no comparison. So I listened it for a second time and I fell in love, not only with the album, but the band itself.

Since that day, Gazpacho have become one of my favorite modern bands. They're not technical, or a band of virtuosos, they just wanna make the listener fall in a trance of ambience and emotion. They also have one of the most consistent discographies I have ever seen. Not a single album they have made falls under four stars in my opinion.

For their sixth album, the band presents us a more diverse work. Unlike the two previous albums which had massive and lengthy tracks, Missa Atropos focuses much more on an album that works better as a full listen, its tracks flow from one to the other and the short interludes help when it comes to making a more involving experience.

Having absolutely phenomenal melodies and atmospheric sections, Missa Atropos manages a very strong tracklist that works by itself or when doing full listens, while also keeping a sense of direction all the way through. The title-track, Vera and Splendid Isolation work as the heavyweights of the album and their focus on trance is very reminiscent of Gazpacho's Night.

A quite inaccesible album, which explains the significantly low ratings, so you might have to give it a couple tries. Gazpacho manages an involving atmosphere like no other and I admire that. It's gotta be five stars. Sad to see it's quite underrated.