Saturday 14 December 2013

A GERMAN REVIEW OF SKY ARCHITECT (The Google Translate gives it a delightfully psychedelic feel)

http://www.babyblaue-seiten.de/album_13865.html#oben


Reviews



From: Nik Brückner @


Since the early days of postmodernism are phrases such as "between tradition and modernity" become meaningless because of the mix of styles, she has produced, has made these two former Poland two pools that are eventually flowed into each other inseparably. In view of retro phenomena which are contemporary because they could not be more retro otherwise, temporal sequences seems to be repealed. And even these are now again subject of new grenzverläugnender style blends become. The good old Retroprog, once to anchor clearly in the work of bands like The Flower Kings and Spock's Beard based crisp bass sounds, jazzy drumming and especially archaic keyboard sounds, has long since with neo prog, new art rock, jazz, prog metal or alternative to barely clearly mixed in a recognizable spectrum are rooted individual styles of individual bands, has produced its ever independent crossover phenomena.

Sky Architect are as a band. Would the phrase "between tradition and modernity" in our postmodern still make sense to her music would exactly describe it. In fact, is the music of Sky Architect is an excellent example of how stylistic elements integrated at the end of all stories in the music together so that their temporal diversity is canceled and their epoch affiliation is meaningless. Sky Architect integrate this space rock, "Animals"-Pink Floyd, King Crimson, classical counterpoint, straighten Acid Rock, Progressive Rock pathetic, technically polyrhythmic virtuosity and a lot of alternative / new art rock to a no longer entmisschbaren and that's what compelling mix of styles. And so it's become clear to you readers too sure: "A Billion Years of Solitude" is Sky Architects best album so far - by far.

Even "The Curious One" proves that the band has learned in the design of long tracks. Although it is still a little room for improvement, the song hangs together much better than previous longtracks the band. In its atmosphere, he is somewhat reminiscent of Marillion's "Gaza", but is more of a piece and can come up with the more interesting parts. However, there are again especially the songs of short to medium duration, which can accommodate Sky Architect to himself. The first highlight is the multi-part, and yet to the point placed "wormholes", which features excellent riffs that are provided to each other in tense contrasts. Here it leaves the band finally a big bang again, something that had been missing on the second album a bit.

"Tides" takes the same score, is a little more concise and shows the alternative influences of the band. This is new art rock, like me: The ominous mood of the song is not caused by sound magic, but by compositional means: The strange, weighty riffing, the classic proggige contrapuntal Interlude and spun vocal melody ensure a perfect Atmorock as he should be.

The next blast is called "Elegy". He waits on par with a polyrhythmic part before the song in floydianische climes migrate ("Animals" phase) - but somehow it's just quite contemporary new art rock .. A quiet piano part then advances to one characterized by horny Geriffe passage that is still inclined enough to pick up the Progfan where he almost rusted when many Retroproghören. The piano returns and leads back to the "Animal"-pean new art rock, the band shows off here than what he just may be: Unlike many bands that are active in this area, Sky Architect explore the potential this genre to the full. So one has to do it!

"Jim's Ride to Hell" This is exactly frenetic Heavy riff-storm which the title suggests. Alternating with intricate staccato the Metal version of "Heart of the Sunrise" riffs is presented, so to speak, complete with distorted guitar and Mellotronstreichern. Terrific piece - and yet only a prelude to the next album track "Revolution", which again contrapuntal Retroprogmetal in the program before it then space loungeig weiterght, with a thick shot of jazz harmony. Again, the band shows how well they capture atmospheres and can bring compositionally to the point. Fluent are the transitions to the next passages, and before you know it you're back in the middle of a world of sound between a dull metal and intelligent new art rock, but also in the good old pig organ is in good hands. The whole thing comes up with dramatic dissonance and intricate rhythms as well as to with great histrionic gestures and a climactic finale. Modern Prog par excellence!

The same can one say about the final piece - though here again comes to light that the glue that will hold together the song that is applied slightly too thin. Though there are some parts repeatedly, but a real train to port is not heard. Nevertheless, the track with its extremely groovy rhythms, its strong melodies and especially his uninhibited space rock passages is once again a highlight of the disc.

It remains to mention that "A Billion Years of Solitude" is a concept album, which can be influenced by the sci-fi classics of the 50s, 60s and 70s has. Here it goes right across the space, and you can hear that the music also. The good news: The effect is not produced on Blubbersounds and studio tricks, but with solid compositional means. That the works over the entire length of the album, Sky Architect lifts finally out of the mass of the Retroprog and New-art-rock bands also - and far. "A Billion Years of Solitude" is not only the best album of the band, but also one of the best albums from this corner, I've heard this year. Forget Steven Wilson.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
A Billion Years of Solitude
CD - £9.99

A Dying Man's Hymn
CD - £7.99

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