TNNE: WONDERLAND

Three years on from 'The Clock That Went Backwards', Luxembourg's TNNE (which as the band was seen as a continuation on from No Name, was called TNNE for The No Name Experience) are back with the second album under that banner, or sixth studio album overall. There has been a major change in the line-up, with Claudio Cordero coming on board, who of course has been guitarist with the mighty Cast for more than ten years. That he has had a major impact on the band is never in doubt, with his more metallic guitar riffs and solos definitely enhancing their neo prog credentials. The PR company likens them to RPWL and IQ, and while I do struggle a little with this, I can understand why those comments have been made although TNNE are far heavier, without ever moving into the prog metal genre.

Alex Rukavina on keyboards is an excellent foil to Claudio, while both drummer Giles Wagner and bassist Michel Casadei della Chiesa are far more in your face and driving melodies than is usual, creating a quite different dynamic. The first time I played the album I discovered I was smiling all the way through, and my feelings towards it have only warmed. In many ways, it does hearken back to the Nineties, yet also feels incredibly current and with a powerful production it really does become an album that is surely at the vanguard of the current neo prog scene. Highly recommended, as with soaring vocals from Patrick Keifer, melodies and counter melodies, complexity and simplicity, layers and space, this is a prog album to savour.

NO NAME released 4 albums between 1993 and 2006 with the last one("4") being the only one I've kept around. The band was dissolved then the singer and keyboardist started the band up again with fresh faces in 2014. This is album number two with the new lineup and even a new band name as they are called THE NO NAME EXPERIENCE now. In my opinion there's not a lot to choose between "4" and "Wonderland" with the exception of the new one being heavier which of course is really common with Neo-Prog bands these days.

"My Childish Mind" gets us started and that heaviness is evident right away with that rhythm section. Love that bass! Sax before a minute as it becomes fuller. The guitar follows then piano before the tempo picks up with sax over top around 2 minutes with vocals then a calm. Synths lead as it picks back up but a spacey calm follows after 3 minutes as contrasts continue. The synths are swirling before 6 1/2 minutes then another spacey calm as this continues plays out.

"Eye Of A Storm" opens with a heavy sound and soon it will be the heaviest we hear on this album. Heavy riffs as the synths roll in. Synths lead after a minute then the guitar. A calm follows then it's heavy again as contrasts continue. Vocals and a heavy atmosphere before 3 1/2 minutes. The guitar cries out a minute later then proceeds to solo. Lots of guitar the rest of the way. "Katrina Killed The Clown" has somewhat mellow vocals with piano. Bass will help out and it kicks in hard at 2 minutes with guitar over top. Not as good as the first two songs though.

"Wonderland" opens with drums and guitar as the vocals join in. The vocals stop before 1 1/2 minutes as the guitar leads then synths. Vocals are back quickly. Piano only before 2 1/2 minutes but the vocals return quickly followed by a full sound. Again it's instrumental with guitar leading before the vocals return before 5 1/2 minutes and it stays energetic to the end.

"Final Fantasy" might be my favourite along with the opener. Atmosphere and experimental sounds to begin with then vocals before a minute as the guitar, drums and bass kick in. Violin follows. I like his singing here and that heavy rhythm before 3 1/2 minutes. Synths lead before 4 1/2 minutes but not for long as the vocals return. So good! "Frozen In Time" sounds really good at first with that beat, guitar and bass in atmosphere. Synths start to pulse then the guitar leads as the vocals arrive just before 2 minutes. Some spoken words after 4 minutes but the vocals return quickly.

"Glittering Lights" opens with atmosphere and more as the vocals join in. Guitar and bass too. So much going on and we will get some riffs too. Kind of a cool track with upfront bass and background synths. His singing is really well done here as usual. "Light Weeks" ends it other than the bonus track. Atmosphere to start as picked guitar and soft vocals take over. A beat too. It's more urgent sounding(doesn't take much here) before 3 minutes including the vocals and guitar especially. Guitar and piano lead after 4 minutes as the vocals step aside briefly then it kicks back in. More guitar solos follow.

A pretty good Neo-Prog album right here and it's good to hear these guys again. There's not many bands out of Luxembourg is there?