SISYFOS

RIVENDEL are a Spanish band who released two studio albums in the 90's only to disappear for 19 years returning with "DHD" in 2015. They are back but different as they have become this all instrumental band focussed on soundscapes and less structured music. "Sisyfos" continues in the same vein as "DHD" but is darker and with a mythological concept to it. Cool that the artwork was done by Angel Ontalva guitarist for Spain's OCTOBER EQUUS. In fact the booklet is an eight panel poster style with the one side being the cover art. I have a strong feeling that Angel enjoyed this album.

They have added a drummer after going without one on "DHD". The keyboardist adds so much with the organ, synths and mellotron to these dark soundscapes and of course the guitarist brings some inventive and experimental expressions to table including a lot of Fripp-like angular moments but also some really tortured leads. This is spacey, mechanical and avant sounding soundscape music expressing a story from Greek mythology.

This is such a uniform recording that it's hard to pick favourites out as one song blends into the next in similar styled music. They seem to mesh that dark early PINK FLOYD period with the muscular and experimental side of KING CRIMSON. Again like "DHD" this is headphone music and I just have to say that I'm so glad I own the last three albums by this band, they are very creative if nothing else. And there is a love/ hate thing going on with these last two releases amongst music fans. Let your mind go as your hear the start of "Charon Crossing The Styx" with the water splashing with the spacey winds as floating organ joins in. Some deep pulses join in along with some sparse acoustic guitar and mellotron later at 2 minutes. The volume is going up then drums before 4 minutes and it's getting experimental. The guitar is angular and more upfront 7 minutes in and especially after 9 1/2 minutes. It turns spacey late to end it.

We get two short piece called "Sisyfus & Merope I and II" before and after "The Isthmian Games". Both short pieces are releaxed with keys that echo and some flute-like sounds and picked guitar. Trippy with mellotron. The song they surround is more upfront with scraping guitar, drums and pulsating organ as bass joins in too. Check out the guitar melody after 3 1/2 minutes. So much going on a minute later my head is spinning. Man "Greek Salad" is a little different as we get horn-like sounds, some piano and it's actually catchy after 4 1/2 minutes. The angular guitar cries out after 5 minutes then a barrage of avant sounds.

"Sisyfus In Styx" is such a cool sounding piece, so spacey throughout. "The Anger Of Zeus" opens with ear piercing guitar before a stampede of drums and sound kick in. This song delves into avant territory after a minute. Feels like getting swarmed by sound just before 3 minutes. The closer like the opener is over 12 minutes and the two longest songs on here. I like the way this slowly builds with Fripp-like guitar and cymbals for a couple of minutes then they amp it up. The guitar is growling here and mellotron floods the soundscape at 3 1/2 minutes as it settles back. The mellotron sounds great 5 minutes in then the guitar starts to impress getting inventive. The mellotron and guitar take turns showing off. An experimental ending to a dark but interesting trip. Easily 4 stars.