TALES FROM AN ISLAND - IMPRESSIONS FROM RAPA NUI

Blank Manuskript

Symphonic Prog

3.79 | 43 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

toroddfuglesteg

More tales from the Easter Islands....

For some reasons, these very remote islands in the Pacific Ocean has an enduring appeal to symphonic prog bands. Lots of songs and some albums has been dedicated to these rocky outcrops. It's all Thor Heyerdahl's fault, really. Blame it on this blonde, tall viking.

The Austrian band Blank Manuscript's debut album is a concept album about the Easter Islands. Concept albums = the 1970s. Mostly, that is. And yes, this album has a very distinct 1970s feel and sound. The likes of Camel and the British undergrowth of symphonic prog bands springs to mind. You get tonnes of long lingering guitar solos too which reminds me about both Latimer in Camel and Gilmour in Pink Floyd. And the two final Pink Floyd albums is also a good reference source here. In short; the sound is nice, tidy and epic. It is also pretty much has an acoustic instruments sound with both plenty of piano and acoustic guitars. This is not an album dominated by an overkill of electric instruments. "Less Is More" seems to be Blank Manuscript's ethos on this album. Tasteful and elegant is the result.

Unfortunate, the art of good songwriting has not been grasped as well as the sound. The songs here is good, but still too anonymous for my liking. The songs are full of intricate, great details, but they have not been connected properly together into solid entities. That is my gripe with this album. The musicians and the sparse vocals are all great. Hence; I am falling down on a safe three stars verdict.

3 stars

toroddfuglesteg | 3/5 | 2011-1-15

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Share this BLANK MANUSKRIPT review

Social review comments () BETA

Review related links

Send comments to toroddfuglesteg
Report this review (#380374)
Buy BLANK MANUSKRIPT music online with PA partners
Show all BLANK MANUSKRIPT MP3/Stream
Go to BLANK MANUSKRIPT page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
Go to Tales from an Island - Impressions from Rapa Nui page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
Search the Forum for BLANK MANUSKRIPT related discussions