MEMENTO VIVERE

Andreas Hack of Frequency Drift wasted little time in retooling his musical vision by releasing one of 2022's finest albums, under the moniker Haven of Echoes, a debut called "the Indifferent Stars", that left no one 'indifferent' to say the least and was critically acclaimed in the prog media. The German multi-instrumentalist had partnered with a tremendous vocalist in Paul Sadler (ex-Spires) and including two Frequency Drift stalwarts in Wolfgang Ostermann on the drum kit and harpist Nerissa Schwarz. The crew remains intact for this 2024 offering, and truth must be said from the beginning, this is a powerful upgrade from the already lofty standards of its predecessor! Comprised of four epic tracks, "Memento Vivere" should top many charts at year's end, among the very finest selections of an exceptional vintage!

The confidence to launch a new disc with a 17-minute behemoth should be proof enough of natural ability, unshakable confidence and boldly progressing to an entirely higher level. "Non Sum, Non Curo " will get the ball rolling with a curvaceous electronic introduction that wastes no time in handing the microphone to Sadler, who displays an uncanny ability to hit the pleasure nodes with his mellifluous delivery. The arrangement seems emboldened to transition from softer realms into ravaging elevations of anger, surely a proper reflection on the current social propensity of switching from calm to rage, peaceful to hostile, caring to indifferent. The roller coaster of evolving sonic impressions is masterfully constructed, maintained and delivered, as if to underline the need to forge ahead nevertheless, yet always bearing in mind of the consideration for deep thought before brash action. The human condition seems to enjoy veering close to the edge, often faltering and stumbling, yet somehow dusting off the pain and standing tall once again. This consciousness is detailed in the wide variances of guitar/keyboard nuances and the muscular drumming, as well as the impassioned vocals that give credence to the sounds, evaporating the anguish into a thin vapor that dissipates in the gentle breeze. Speechless.

An exquisite track written by Nerissa, "Ad Infinitum" proposes an endless melody with excruciating celestial vocals, a weeping lament of majestic proportions that touches the heart and the soul. The twinkling harp suggest a profound melancholia steeped in a soporific splendour that transits into a slightly darker realm, with buzzing guitars, howling background choir, and syncopated complexity, before returning to a certain sense of serenity, as the melody returns, anguished and suffering. Astonished.

The murky and veiled atmosphere on the brooding 14-minute epic "It Walks Among Us" treads a new path, with occasional pools of velvet that barely shadows a feeling of impending doom, a melancholic camouflage of a darker purpose lurking, just underneath the surface or even worse, barely beyond the trees. The cacophonic orchestrations underline this hapless quest with disturbing effect, definitely foreboding and frightening, where cussing guitars, sinister noises and a surrendering voice rule the spirit. There is some palpable 'sturm und drang' in the mechanical finale, drenched in perspiration and dread. Uncomfortable music for uncomfortable times. Flabbergasted.

Often in progressive circles, artists like to encompass the entire album into a meaningful finale that serves to summarise, and "Assimilation" certainly qualifies as such, which is why it was chosen as the first single. While not necessarily branded as accessible it does promote an optimistic comfort zone that contrasts with the previous track's utter desolation. Here, the grandiose melody is immediately attractive, the entire vocal off the charts and memorable, as the instrumental platform expands in stature with a brilliant piano memento, a blistering guitar adventure, until the very end where the hushed voices remind us that the peril is never far away. Stunned.

5 Humanoid Recalls

The Germany based HAVEN OF ECHOES is a relatively new band on the prog circuit but serves more as a duo-based supergroup with seasoned veterans of the trade Paul Sadler, the guitarist and vocalist of the UK based prog metal band Spires along with ex-Frequency Drift keyboardist Andreas Hack aka Feeling of Presence. Together these two talented musicians have burst onto the scene beginning with the debut album "The Indifferent Stars" which garnered rave reviews from lovers of melodic symphonic / neo-prog extravaganzas. The duo has returned only two years with its second coming, the monumental MEMENTO VIVERE which once again includes drummer Wolfgang Ostermann and Nerissa Schwarz who offers some interesting electric harp contributions as well as delivering some extra keyboard moments.

Going for the gusto and pushing further in myriad directions in comparison to the debut, MEMENTO VIVERE nurtures four sprawling tracks into true prog splendor with all exceeding the eight minute mark and two exceeding fourteen. The opening "Non Sum - Non Curo" boldly displays a whopping 17 minutes worth of prog twists and turns that allow the band's melodic sensibilities to spring to life with a massive rotisserie of varying motifs that find soft tender melodies morphing from soft piano arpeggio dominated passages to heftier rock majesty. Brought to life with Paul Sadler's emotive vocal performances the music reminds a bit of the tender frailty of Riverside but at times sounds a bit like Andy Bell of Erasure as well! Displaying a wide range of abilities though Sadler rises to the occasion to animate this atmospheric prog to an entirely new level of excellence.

While the opener runs the gamut of synth-laden neo-prog styles to more frenetic metallic outbursts as the underpinning, "Ad Infinitum" displays a more tender crooning methodology with a winding display of cadences and melodic richness that coalesce into a near 9-minute mix of piano based melancholy. Along for the ride are rich guitar sweeps and the electric harp wizardry of Nerissa Schwarz along with a nice display of restraint and atmospheric excess. "It Walks Among Us" follows suit as the second longest track. It's at this point that Sadler's vocals remind me a bit of Einar Solberg who has fronted the prog metal / art rock band Leprous for the last two decades. Both singers display a firm control of their vocals to express subtle shades of emotive nuances that many similarly styled prog bands woefully lack. This track is also on the slinky slow mode with darkened hues of keyboard sensation and nice percussive outbursts that drop in from time to time through the mostly chilled drifting style of the track.The mid-section orchestrations are profound and powerful making this a track a true powerhouse.

"Assimilation" ends the 48 minute album run and continues the same stylistic approach nurtured in abundance throughout the album's previous three tracks. While based in the same synth-laden atmospheric cloud covers and cyclical piano processions, this one adds a bit more rock guitar to the mix. Yet once again Sadler dazzles with his passionate vocal projections that emotively decorate the tales at hand. While MEMENTO VIVERE is rather restrained in moments of guitar showboating, this track allows the chained up instrument to take a stroll every so often with a beautiful melodic solo and once again Schwarz delivers some gorgeous electric harp contributions. While not credited the sounds of violins whether real or synthesized offer nice contrapuntal elements and the moments of electronic freakery during the whispered vocal section offer a rare movement of darkness and fright to the otherwise placid procession through this highly melodic album experience.

This is the kind of prog that has to be done right for me to really want to experience repeatedly as more often than not the band doesn't have the chops to balance the atmospheric ambience with a proper instrumental accompaniment. Top that off, the vocals tend to be an afterthought and the proper role of the percussion and bass are secondary. Not so with HAVEN OF ECHOES. These guys have nailed the whole enchilada thus making MEMENTO VIVERE as vivacious as its namesake. While some may tout this a masterpiece of some sorts, in comparison to other accomplished bands the album comes off as a very close cousin to a less rock oriented Riverside or Leprous more based in neo-prog than anything heavy. While many a modern prog band sports this same style, it's rarely carried out as satisfying as HAVEN OF ECHOES displays on this second coming. A band to keep your eye on for the future and one to check out if you haven't done so already.

Somehow, I missed the debut album from Haven of Echoes, which was released in 2022, but when Andreas Hack contacted me asking if I would be interested in hearing the new one, I was immediately intrigued. I of course know Andreas from Frequency Drift (you need to seek out 'Letters to Maro' if you have not come across it) and then noticed that both Nerissa Schwarz and Wolfgang Osterman from that band are also in this one, with the line-up completed by Paul Sadler (Spires/solo). Paul provides vocals and guitar, Nerissa electric harp and keyboards, Wolfgang drums, while all other instruments are by Andreas.

This album is a soundscape, a curtain of musicality being stood up for Paul to pitch his wonderful vocals against, with the band switching between simplicity and complexity, gentleness and force, always dramatic and always pulsing like a living being. It is a style of music which in many ways can be embracing, covering us with sound, but it is never stifling although it is not always comforting as they understand the need for contrast to keep the differences at extremes without allowing anything to lose its impact. I have deliberately not looked at any other reviews, which is my normal approach, but I can imagine if I delved into what people are saying I would discover a whole mix of influences being discussed. The first name which popped into my head when trying to think how to best describe this was early Muse, although in reality they are not that similar in an audible sense, more in the approach, while Leprous and Riverhead also come to mind, although not so much.

It is undoubtedly an album which rewards repeated playing as the longer one spends with it the deeper one becomes emotionally connected. It is an album which is designed to be played on headphones late at night, preferably outside looking at the stars, becoming immersed and being at one with the music. Lyrically, it deals primarily with the theme of impermanence and the way in which we are all affected by the knowledge of our own mortality and then this is wrapped up in a cinematic all-encompassing arrangement which takes us on a deep journey. Well worth investigating for those who want to spend time uncovering the joys to be discovered.