TALE OF DIFFUSION

TALE OF DIFFUSION are a four piece band out of Poland and so far this 2009 recording is their only studio album. An instrumental concept album about Mandorius(The Bird) and this is one of many concept albums I own that are about a bird. We get just under an hour of music and I have to be honest I never thought of that bird except when that brief narration arrives on the third track then it's "Oh yeah this is about a bird." This is just really good melodic music with plenty of guitars, excellent drumming and we get two guest keyboardists helping out along with a trumpet player. Both keyboardists also add guitar which is interesting as the four piece consists of two guitarists already along with bass and drums.

Man this does not sound like Neo Prog to my ears, maybe Crossover, not that it matters I like this record and am just glad it's on the site here. There are several times I'm thinking "Discipline" era KING CRIMSON, sometimes Jazz and that third track with the brief narration could be off a movie soundtrack and so much atmosphere on this one with the spacey synths. Interesting that when the song starts to move and speed up I'm thinking Neo prog for the only time and it settles back quickly.

How about "Melody Man" a 17 1/2 minute track that takes us all over the place. Love the powerful and intense sounds late. This is a band who changes it up enough to make this all very interesting like the electronics on this one. Love the guitar on "Mandorius" as it cries out over and over. That last track "Rebird" is so good with those piano led uplifting moments to the trippy bass driven sections. Guitar solo around 3 1/2 minutes and a better one to end it.

A very well done instrumental album easily worth the 4 stars.

Aside from The Lens, I don't think many people have explored the possibilities of all- instrumental neo-prog, which is why I find this delightful collection by Tale of Diffusion so enchanting. Evoking a diverse range of atmospheres from the whimsical to the spooky, the album features fine production and excellent performances, the compositions throw in a few nods to prog greats of the past but for the most part have a very individual sound. The contributions of guest keyboardists Pawel and Michal Marciniak and trumpeter Szymon Żmudzinski adds a sort of late-era Talk Talk texture to proceedings which is especially interesting. On the whole, a tale worth listening to.

I like how the review box provided by PROGARCHIVES states at the top, "Write your personal Tale Of Diffusion...", and so I shall, so I shall. I have been an avid follow of Polish prog (in all it's manifestations) for the past few years; with such notables as Riverside, Believe, and SBB. This debut album by Tale Of Diffusion simply belongs in this company. You'll find a mix of Lunatic Soul, Marillion and Lebowski on this disc. Great use of piano and trumpet turns less gymnastic peices into excellent Neo-Prog. Special note should be placed on "Melody Man", as a standout track mixing multiple time signatures, pleasing melodies, and a jazz trumpet to die for. I tried to research these guys, but couldn't find much content. Having said that, their music will tell you all you need to know. I rarely give 5 stars, but this album gets a 4.5/5, so I guess we round up.

— First review of this album —

Tale of Diffusion was born in 2002 in Lodz, Poland, when three former bandmates, guitarist Bartosz Florczak, bassist Tomasz Pawlikowski and drummer Radoslaw Malinowski unite their forces with a new member on guitars, Michal Szmidt.Two demo tracks of the band were played in a broadcast on Polish radio, followed by several live appearances.In 2006 it was time for the band's debut-demo album, which was sent to different labels in search of a good contract.

The band seems to have been much influenced by KING CRIMSON in a good way, delivering their inspiration is a very Post-Rock way and the opener ''Arab'' with its deep atmosphere, the quirky guitar playing and the atmospheric rhythm section summarizes Tale of Diffusion's approach.The rest of the demo more or less follows the same path.Limited vocals and plenty of space for instrumental music, highlighted by the grandiose dual guitars and the dynamic rhythm section with alternation between low but intense grooves and more demanding parts, often supported by the color of the added trumpets or the district electronic loops.Of course the three-part epic ''Melody man'', clocking at over 16 minutes, remains the absolute guide of this work, starting in a guitar-driven Post-Rock attitude, while elements from Jazz and Ambient are popping out on the way with the appearance of trumpets in the later part.Even some COLLAGE influence is evident on the guitar workouts.

Talented young act, the style of which maybe sound a bit monotonic throughout, but has much more to offer than the first impression.Definitely a grower, this first effort by the Polish band is free downloadable at last.fm.