Reviewed: 2018-01-11
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: the musicians on this disc reside in the nucleus of modern era progressive rock initiatives on a global basis. It would be safe to say that the distinct approach, flavor and supreme technical acumen Stick Men bring to the forefront would not be easily achievable with novices. Here, Levin and Reuter fill out an expansive soundstage with nifty contrapuntal maneuvers and guerrilla bass expositions while extending the band's reach with affable vocals.
If You Like: Robert Fripp. King Crimson, Peter Murphy, Porcupine Tree
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Prog Noir (5:37) – bass starts> uptempo rocking jam with midtempo vocals over the top> fade
2/ Mantra (5:46) – heavy chords start> midtempo rocker with chorus> morphs into heavy repetitive riffs> quick stop
3/ Plutonium (4:48) – guitar repetitive riff starts> spoken word over the top with interspersed sonic rocking jams> quick stop
*4/ The Tempest (5:42) – drums/bass start> midtempo rocking jam with spoken word over the top> wild instrumental break> midtempo jam with spoken word> quick stop
***5/ Schattenhaft (4:32) – drums> uptempo sonic rocking jam into heavy rocker with sonic guitar over the top> quick stop
*6/ Rose In The Sand/Requiem (4:36) – synth starts> beautiful melody midtempo jam> melody shift to slow sonic jam> fade
*7/ Leonardo (4:57) – guitar starts> uptempo jam with heavy chords> melody shifts several times, always sonic> builds in volume & intensity> crescendo end
**8/ Trey’s Continuum (4:03) – guitar starts> romping sonic uptempo jam morphs into heavy rocker> melody shift> quick fade
*9/ Embracing The Sun (4:54) – synth guitar starts> uptempo rocking space jam> quick stop
**10/ Never the Same (6:29) – synth starts> uptempo rocking sonic jam & song> slow fade