LEGACY

This is the latest album from Belgium's HYPNOS 69 and for me it's a big step up from their previous record "The Eclectic Measure". The main issue I had with the previous album was the vocals, i'm just not a fan of the tone of them when he sings with passion. And while this issue had an influence on my rating for that one, I feel they've upped their game in a major way here making this a solid four star albums despite some perceived flaws by yours truly. I agree with Hugues that they've changed their sound somewhat to more of a KING CRIMSON flavour circa "In The Court Of The Crimson King" / "Islands" sound with the prominant sax and mellotron at times. So yes "Legacy" is an apt title for this recording. This is an almost 73 minute album yet the time flies by when listening, that says a lot.

Things get started with the almost 18 minute opener called "Requiem(For A Dying Creed)". It hits the ground running and this continues for almost 2 minutes when it settles down and vocals join in. So much going on here as the bass, organ, guitar and mellotron impress. It settles back even more 4 1/2 minutes in with clarinet helping out. Great section before 7 minutes with sampled spoken words then it kicks in hard with some ripping sax. The guitar takes over then themes begin to be repeated starting around 10 minutes. Love the guitar solo after 16 minutes that goes on to the end. Nice! "An Aerial Architect" reminds me of "21st Century Schizoid Man" for almost a minute with the heaviness and sax, then it settles down with vocals. This is a pretty good sax driven tune people and check out the sound just after 5 minutes. "My Journey To The Stars" has this intricate and relaxed sound as reserved vocals join in. Clarinet replaces the vocals before 2 minutes and we get some floating organ as well. A tasteful guitar solo 3 1/2 minutes in that becomes passionate as it plays out. I like the spacey final minute.

"The Sad Destiny We Lament" has a PINK FLOYD vibe with those melancholic synths. Vocals join in as well in this psychedelic beauty. "The Empty Hourglass" is almost 11 minutes in length and one of my favourites. It opens with some excellent drum work as the guitar and organ join in and light it up early on. Vocals and sax take over as it settles back some. I like the calm with sax after 3 minutes as it trips along. Mellotron 6 minutes in as the guitar starts to solo. Vocals follow then a big finish. "Jerusalem" has a relaxed sound to it with clarinet and vocals. Check out the sax later on as the sound turns heavier. "The Great Work" ends it and this is the 18 1/2 minute closer. This is slow moving and beautiful with spacey keys, subtle guitar notes and plenty of mellotron. Words speak out of the floating soundscape. Drums before 3 1/2 minutes and the guitar becomes more passionate, organ too. It kicks in harder after 5 minutes, amazing! It settles down again then a guitar solo arrives 9 1/2 minutes in followed by sax a minute later. The sax is insane 12 1/2 minutes in then mellotron arrives a minute later. A calm arrives after 15 minutes to the end.

Yes this one grew on me as my first listen didn't go all that well. I'm still not big on the vocals but this is easily 4 stars despite them.