GOOD MORNING DYSTOPIA

"We are being watched". This is the theme for the debut album from Germany's Osta Love. I have to admit that it is a theme to which I can't help but relate. The inspired cover art of the figure covered in red will certainly stay with you throughout this album. This three-piece band has crafted an album full of fear and insecurity, but also of release and freedom. It's quite an experience.

Osta Love plays a slower, atmospheric style of prog rock. They mix psychedelic Floydian ambiance with the steeled guitars of Porcupine Tree, subtle drums, and a good dose of their own ideas. Not only is it enjoyable, but "Good Morning Dystopia" is also an album that will grow and grow on the listener. Full of feeling, dark atmosphere, and a subtle outrage, this album matches its style to its message incredibly well. In fact, neither would have been as effective without the other. In a good call, the vocals are also subtle, light, and even a little unfeeling. You see, "Good Morning Dystopia" purveys its feeling through the dark/light and hardened/smooth textures it contains. The vocals, then, seem to act like a counterpoint. The unfeeling style of singing only accentuates the message of surveillance and discomfort with this modern world.

This album starts out with a wonderfully eerie "Prologue", and features not one poor track. In the first half, "Alienation" and "Subway" are both standouts. However, this album really wowed me when it reached "The Guards". The last four tracks, then are perfectly placed, diverse, and incredibly well-written. "The Guards" is a guitar-driven spectacle while "Alaska" is a soft, key-driven ballad that ends in a great instrumental. Then, a psychedelic trip is found in "Shine", and a perfect ending note is "Epilogue". There is such a progression from track to track that you will almost be caught up in it and not realize that there are four tracks here.

While the album centers around the discomfort and insecurity of living in this world, the album ends on a good note. Finding that place of privacy and comfort is an important task, and it will truly allow you to shine. The album, then, is not all dark or brooding, but, again, features great progression of music and ideas.

So, I fully recommend this journey. Osta Love has many great ideas, and an awesome foundation on which to build. To say that I am impressed is an understatement. Brooding and light, atmospheric and grounded, "Good Morning Dystopia" is a fantastic start to Osta Love's career.

4.5 stars

Osta Love are a studio project that has been put together by childhood friends Leon Ackermann (drums) and Tobias Geberth (guitar, vocals, keys and bass). They started Osta love in 2010, and this is this is their debut album, showing that they have been heavily influenced by Porcupine Tree, Muse, Pink Floyd and other more emotional and dreamy bands. There may not be too much in terms of rock within this prog rock album, but there is just enough so that it doesn't become a blancmange of sound. There is just enough diversity and contrast to keep the listener involved and become emotionally divested in what is going on. Lyrically the album is dealing with urban life, surveillance and escapism, and the image on the front cover is incredibly striking. Why are they covered in red? Who is she/he? What is their purpose?

This doesn't feel like a project, but very much as a band album, and it will be interesting to see how they develop as if they are going to take this onto the live circuit then of course they will need more musicians, but will that change the sound? At the present this is brooding, compelling and interesting stuff. For more details visit www.ostalove.de

German project OSTA LOVE, originally Osta Lcve, was formed as a studio-based venture by Tobias Geberth and Leon Ackermann back in 2010. They released an initial production, "Colours", in 2011, which now appears to have been withdrawn. "Good Morning Dystopia" is their official debut album, and was self-released at the tail end of 2013.

If you tend to favor bands described as dark, atmospheric and possibly also cinematic sounding, and you just can't get enough of that late 70's Pink Floyd sound, then Osta Love's debut album "Good Morning Dystopia" has your name written all over it. In particular, if you don't mind a side serving of Porcupine Tree. Not the most original material around, but for those who have a deep affection for music of this kind that really doesn't matter either.