Top Albums from the Year 2001, Part 2: The Near-Masterpieces

  Somewhere beneath the level of timeless masterpiece status lies a group of albums whose quality and merit deserve categorization of something like "near-masterpiece." These are albums that have either achieved a Fishermetric score of between 90.0 and 87.0 or whose high points or quality level make it remarkable enough to remain affixed in my memory.

From the Year 2001, you will find below 16 albums releases deserving, in my opinion, of the "near-masterpiece" designation plus one Special Mention.  

4.5 Stars; Near-Masterpieces

(Ratings of 89.99 to 86.67)

8. PEKKA POHJOLA Views

Pekka's final contribution to humankind finds the genius going back to his truth, to his soul. Though this is mostly jazz-rock fusion, there is a lot of jazz and smooth jazz-pop here as well.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Pekka Pohjola / bass, keyboards, composer, arranger & producer
With:
- Sami Saari / vocals (2)
- Kim Lönnholm / vocals (2)
- Pemo Ojala / vocals (2)
- Markku Kanerva / guitar (2)
- Seppo Kantonen / piano, keyboards
- Tapani Rinne / soprano sax (1)
- Jukka Perko / alto sax (3-5) solo on 3
- Pentti Lahti / alto & baritone sax (3,5)
- Manuel Dunkel / tenor sax (3,5)
- Teemu Salminen / flutes (2,4)
- Teemu Matsson / trumpet (2-5)
- Verneri Pohjola / trumpet (2-5)
- Markku Veijonsuo / trombone (2-5)
- Ilmari Pohjola / trombone (2-5)
- Jari Valo / 1st violin
- Jukka Pohjola / 2nd violin
- Teemu Kupiainen / viola
- Tomas Djupsjöbacka / cello (1)
- Timo Alanen / cello (2-5)
- Laura Hynninen / harp (1,2)
- Mika Kallio / drums (3-5)
- Reino Laine / drums (3)
- Anssi Nykänen / drums (2), fills on 3,5
- Tapio "Mongo" Aaltonen / percussion

1. 'Waves" (6:56) gorgeous soprano sax in the lead over piano and orchestra. (14/15) 

2. "The Red Porsche" (5:00) funk-jazz from the 1980s--clearly inspired by the Ghostbusters soundtrack. (8.5/10)

3. "Metropolitan" (14:05) opening very much like an AFTER CRYING classically-influenced piece, piano and Pekka's bass take over the second and third minutes--though jazz horns play a very strong role as well. I'm reminded of several 1970s television and film soundtracks as I listen to this. At the five minute mark a kind of "Birdland" bass and layered horns take the lead. These horn arrangements are pretty cool--very sophisticated. Strings are also nice. The old-fashioned big band feel only gets stronger as the piano takes the lead soloist position. At 11:20 things return to the AFTER CRYING orchestral motif of the opening. (26/30)

 
4. "Views" (7:34) pretty and well composed but a little too saccharine/syrupy for me--more "jazz lite" than progressive rock or even Jazz-Rock Fusion. (12.75/15)

5. "Us" (11:32) easily the most unique, refreshing, and nonderivative song on the album (which is GOOD), I can definitely hear some of the idiosyncratic tastes for melody and rhythm that seems common to all Finns in this excellent song. By the time we're deep into the fifth minute I'm feeling a very strong PAT METHENY GROUP vibe. This is really awesome! Fun and upbeat and makes me want to dance! Then at the 6:00 mark all but piano and occasional space synth flourish support an excellent jazz bass solo. Things amp up for a little bridge just before the eight-minute mark before we get another shift--a downshift into. This is such a delightful song! Though the congealment of the final ninety seconds again brings me back to 1970s film scores (think Arthur or St. Elmo's Fire), it's still wonderful to hear. (19.75/20)

Total Time: 45:37

90.0 on the Fishscales = A-/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of jazz-rock fusion from one of the old masters! 

9. BUBBLEMATH Such Fine Particles of the Universe

My introduction to this band was in the form of their 2017 masterpiece, Edit Peptide. What was remarkable about Edit Peptide was that it was first album release by the band since their 2003 debut! Apparently, the band members had quite a bit of trouble getting together to play, write, record, edit, and package their next album, but I'm glad they did.

Such Fine Particles of the Universe is a great album in its own right, though looking back through the lens of their sophomore release one can see how much their compositional and lyrical ideas have progressed since then. All of the songs are very cleverly worded, titled, and performed. Some of the music here is very melodic like CHEER-ACCIDENT [1. "Miscreant Citizen" (8.75/10), 2. "Be Together" (9.25/10), 6. "TV Paid Off" (8.5/10), 7. "Help Yourself to a Neighbor" (8.25/10), 11. "Potential People" (8.75/10), and 12. "Cells Out" (9/10)] while others are more avant-garde and comedic as if inspired by KING CRIMSON, Frank Zappa, Devo, or THE CARDIACS [3. "Dancing with Your Pants Down" (9/10), 4. "She's No Vegetarian" (10/10), 8. "Forever Endeavor" (4.25/5), 9. "Heavenly Scared So" (8.5/10), and 10. "Your Disease Is Nicer" (5/5)] or a combination of the two [5. "Doll Hammer" (8.75/10)] As a matter of fact, I'd say the King Crimson sound palette and Cardiacs singing-lyric style get stronger and more pronounced as you go through the album. 

Another big difference between this album and Edit Peptide is the brevity of these songs--only two songs longer than five minutes and several barely around the three minute mark.  

My top Three Songs:  the hilarious 4. "She's No Vegetarian" (10/10); the incredibly tight weaves of 2. "Be Together" (9.25/10), and; 12. "Cells Out" (9/10).

89.91 on the Fishscales = B+4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of clever, very witty, truly progressive rock music.

10. KOENJI HYAKKEI Nivraym

They're back! and with a line-up that includes not one or two but three new musicians. Brace yourself! (And please, anyone with any kind of heart conditions: Proceed with extreme caution!)

Line-up / Musicians:
- Nami Sagara / vocals
- Jin Harada / electric & acoustic guitars
- Kenichi Oguchi / keyboards
- Kengo Sakamoto / bass, vocals
- Tatsuya Yoshida / drums, vocals
With:
- Keiko Komori / soprano sax, bass clarinet
- Taku Yabuki / keyboards
- AH / vocals

1. "Nivraym" (5:40) I'm sorry, but as virtuosic as these instrumentalists/vocalists may be, I cannot hear this song without thinking that their whole Zeuhl shtick is mostly tongue-in-cheek. Crazy but how can you not appreciate the skills and confidence involved in creating and performing this music? (9.5/10)

2. "Becttem Pollt" (5:21) powerful and dramatic if a little too uniform and one-dimensional. (8.75/10)

3. "Lussesoggi Zomn" (10:26) I think they hired NINA HAGEN for this one! Simple sparse notes from piano and bass with Nami going crazy. The band coalesces into a fast-driving heavy rock ensemble for the second and third minutes as Japanese versions of Kobaia take on a variety of crazed and crazy forms. Definitely Zeuhlish. I wonder what Christian Vander thinks. Guitar solo is more rock-like than Zeuhl, but it is short-lived as band slips into several different Zeuhl motifs before we have a chance to integrate what we've just heard. Incredible confidence to practice, perfect, and record this piece of complex music. (Though it is not perfect: there are performance flaws. But, what do you expect for a band's first effort with this lineup--three new members?) Several sections are over-extended a bit, but, otherwise, this is mind-boggling stuff. Nami Sagara is a force! (17.75/20)

4. "Vissqaguell" (5:31) several tracks are very heavy on the distortion (I think intentionally), and the pace of this one is amazing. It makes Christian V. & Co. really seem slow and old! There are so many incredible exploits here: vocally, keyboards, drums and bass, guitars. How does one write such material? (8.75/10)

5. "Mederro Passquirr" (6:23) a little more grounded in Western styles (drumming, synth sound choices, electric guitar work, straightforward bass), this one still shocks and surprises. What a keyboard player! At 1:20 things settle into an almost Broadway choral piece--with simple piano chords providing the main direction for the elaborate choral performances. This is more MAGMA-like familiar Zeuhl. I like it but it's not as exciting or innovative as the previous songs. Highly intricate vocal demands from the fifth minute on--almost Leonard Bernstein-like. (8.75/10) 

6. "Axall Hasck" (6:34) synths and Mellotron leading this one as more straightforward (though wickedly fast) bass, guitar, drums, voice, and sax try to keep up. It's like a race to catch the keyboard rabbit. Only the off-trail sax has a chance, veering in and out of the weave, until the half way point when everybody downshifts from overdrive to 5th gear--and then at 3:30 when there is another downshift into a kind of Latin rhythm while Nami solos. The keyboards' solos that follow are more human--though the bass, sax, and drums now begin to go off on their own crazed frenetic path--which only incites the synth to take the lead back across the finish line. (8.75/10)

7. "Maschtervoz" (4:10) are they tiring? Slower and more spacious--only the sax is in the usual zone of amphetamine. Nami and Jin and Kenichi are fairly subdued compared to their previous selves. It sure does showcase Keiko's sax, though. (8.25/10) 

8. "Gassttrumm (9:24) again, the reins are on as the band proceeds in a much more controlled, humanly pace--though still incredibly intricately constructed and performed. At the two minute mark there is a slight shift for searing synth solo before a shift into space Zeuhl with some wild drumming beneath the synth and vocal melody line. It's like a conversation between the synth and the drummer with the rest of the band providing support and context. Very cool! Now at the end of the fourth minute the bass gets a turn to let loose with the drummer. Another synth turn, bass and drums, synth, etc. all the while the vocalists At 5:20 there is a sudden right turn into macho Western man territory while bass, guitar riff, and drums support the soloing synthesizer player--this time with a much more familiar prog-like solo ripping up the soundwaves. Man this guy can play! With 90 seconds to play we shift back into a more breakneck straight ahead speed before another oddly computer-like epithet and then an unexpectedly  cohesive finish. Amazing song. (18.5/20)

9. "Vallczeremdoss" (4:49) more controlled whole band weave opens this one--until the second minute when the choral vocals enter--then things go time wonky--nothing staying the same for more than a measure or two. How do they do it? How does a whole band stay on course with this kind of intricacy?  And then what follows--the voices trying to keep up with the instruments--is simply unbelievable! (9.75/10)

Total Time: 58:18

89.77 on the Fishscales = B+/4.5 stars; an absolutely astonishing display of compositional brilliance with nearly as astonishing performances. In fact, that would be my only criticism of the music on this album: sometimes it just seems too much of a stretch for any human to perform to perfection! Still, an excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection. Just be prepared: you're heart- and breathing rates will be elevated for quite a while during and after listening to this album!  

11. PÄR LINDH PROJECT Veni, Vidi, Vici

Line-up / Musicians:
- Magdalena Hagberg / vocals, violin
- Pär Lindh / grand piano, harpsichord, church organ, Hammond organs, Mell

otron, Korg & Roland synths, Fender Rhodes, Therminovox, bass (5), co-producer
- Nisse Bielfield / drums, vocals, co-producer
With:
- John Hermansen / guitar
- Jocke Ramsell / guitar (10)
- Jonas Reingold / bass
- Marcus Jäderholm / bass (10)
- Niklas Blixt / horn
- Eric Ullman / bassoon
- Jens Johansson / flute

1. "Adagio" (0:56) "strings" á la Wolfgang Amadeus. (5/5)

2. "Veni, Vidi, Vici" (7:56) powerful drumming but too much Emersonian bombast. (13/15)

3. "Gradus ad Parnassum" (13:55) (26/30) 

4. "Tower of Thoughts" (5:01) power drums, bass, Mellotron, and piano create the opening for this before Magdalena enters sounding like HEATHER FINDLAY or CHRISTINA BOOTH. Impressive fretless bass play. Speed changes and power chords are interdispersed before a new motif is introduced in the third minute by the organ and piano. Were it not for the proportion of classically-informed keys, this song could come straight off of a MAGENTA album. (8.75/10)

5. "River of Tales" (3:12) solo classical-styled piano ballad supporting Magdalena (and Nisse)'s voices. Beautiful on all counts. (9/10)

6. "Juxtapoint" (4:16) two chord synth intro which is quickly joined by active drums and bass. The keys, drums, and bass all show off a bit before slowing down to support Magdalena's vocal. The recording sound here is a bit out of balance--maybe the "jusxta"position that Pär Lindh is trying to "point" out. Amazing guitar speed of the soloist in the fourth minute. For me, the drums here are just too over-the-top--otherwise, this is a pretty good song. (8.75/10)

7. Le Grande Chambardement (2:13) 

8. Adagio con flauto et clavicembalo (0:54) 

9. "Hymn" (4:55) a beautiful, church-like choral vocal arrangement opens this song before church organ and solo female vocalist take over. Chorale chorus with stark violin solo precedes full-rock combo with thumping bass and drums backing a synth solo. Violin gets the next solo over the full rock arrangement before synth closes out this section, yielding to the returning female vocalist and her organ and choir support. Excellent song! (9.5/10)

10. "The Premonition" (7:34) now we've moved into RICK WAKEMAN territory--complete with the flaws that Rick has become known for in his too-stereotypic composing and soloing styles. The performances are all impressive, there's just too much bombast--several times it even makes me cringe. Once the music settles into a pocket, after the first round of vocals, it has a great sound and mix for the keyboard and guitar soli. The Hammond organ soli here sound more like KEITH EMERSON than Wakeman--and the alternating church organ give it the feeling as if Keith and Rick were duelling a bit. "Orchestral strings" get the next solo in the smooth seventh minute. Despite the bombastic opening, this one is quite nice--and memorable. (13.25/15)

Total Time: 50:52

Overall, the more aggressive prog approach--especially the hyper drums--don't work as well for me. Also, the sound/engineering mixing is off on a few songs. In my opinion, the best material on this album comes from Pär Lindh and Magdalena.

88.81 on the Fishscales = B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of progressive rock music--not quite up to the brillance or clarity of Mundus Incomperatus or Gothic Impressions but still worth your time and attention.

12. NO-MAN Returning Jesus

Prog revivalists Steven Wilson and Tim Bowness come together for their fourth collaborative effort under the No-Man moniker--and they pull together quiet an extra-ordinary lineup of musicians for studio realization of this wonderful album.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Tim Bowness / vocals, lyrics
- Steven Wilson / instruments
With:
- Ben Christophers / acoustic guitar (1,7)
- David Kosten / synthesizer & cymbal (1), co-producer (1)
- Ian Carr / trumpet (1)
- Ian Dixon / trumpet (2), flugelhorn (3,7,22)
- Theo Travis / saxophone (7,22), flute (8,14,19,20)
- Colin Edwin / bass, double bass (1,8)
- Steve Jansen / drums
- Rick Edwards / percussion (3,12,19) 

1. "Only Rain" (7:24) the inimitable Tim Bowness sings in his plaintive voice over part of this beautiful ambient instrumental to open the album and set the stage for the rest of this highly contemplative album. Love that Ian Carr (of Brit Prog Fusion pioneers Nucleus, etc.) plays trumpet on this. (I'm a sucker for the soulful trumpet.) The second half is so sparsely populated that we could be in the Mongolian steppes.(13.5/15)

2. "No Defence" (5:20) the album's weakest song. (8.33/10)

3. "Close Your Eyes" (8:25) despite the extended hand drum opening, this one reminds me very much of 1980s SIMPLE MINDS mixed with a little of Mark Hollis' TALK TALK. Nice performance from Tim Bowness. (17.25/20)

4. "Carolina Skeletons" (5:08) pensive piano and effects provide the sparse background for this exercise in TALK TALK-like Post Rock music. (8.33/10)

5. "Outside The Machine" (5:46) presents with Steve Jansen's sumptuous brush work, Steven Wilson's sparse, RYUICHI SAKAMOTO-like piano work, and Colin Edwin's fretless bass work. A top three song for me. (9.5/10) 

6. "Returning Jesus" (5:19) Drummer Steve Jansen's amazing Balinese gamelan percussives coupled with the sparse keys and guitar soli make for one heck of a song. It reminds me quite a bit of one of my most favorite songs of all-time, Brian Eno's "And Julie With … " Another top three song. (9/10)

7. "Slow It All Down" (3:42) a tense and cinematic beauty. (8.75/10)

8. "Lighthouse" (8:12) sounds like 1980s Porcupine Tree. Great presence of organ and double bass with Tim's very emotional vocal.  My final top three song. (13.5/15)

9. "All That You Are" (4:44) blues rock guitar arpeggiated chord progression beneath Tim's forward vocal is just a bit too BEATLES/PROCUL HARUM-ish for me. (8.33/10)

Total Time: 56:00

A very nice album from Mssrs. Steven Wilson and Tim Bowness that, in my opinion, stands head and shoulders above the Together We're Stranger (probably due to the rhythm contributions of drummer/percussionist, STEVE JANSEN). I love the stripped down to bare bones song compositions--they work so well with Bowness's plaintive, breathy vocals.

88.63 on the Fish scales = a four star album rated up for the awesome contributions of Steve Jansen. Nice effort at creating gorgeous, memorable music over sparsity and spaciousness.

13. THE WATCH Ghost

More excellently composed, performed, and engineered GENESIS-imitative music from these very serious Italian artists.

Line-up / Musicians:

- Simone Rossetti / vocals, flute, arrangements

- Valerio Vado / acoustic & electric guitars, Fx

- Gabriele Manzini / keyboards

- Marco Schembri / bass, acoustic guitar

- Roberto Leoni / drums, percussion

With:

- Sergio Taglioni / piano, organ, synth, sound design

- Gino Menichini / keyboards, programming

- Simone Stucchi / arrangements, programming, co-producer

1. "DNAlien" (8:36) an excellent attempt at a variation of Foxtrot-era "Watcher" Genesis. (17.5/20)

2. "The Ghost and the Teenager" (8:38) perfect duplication of Genesis. (18/20)

3. "Heroes" (9:27) would be an instant Genesis classic. Love the ANT PHILLIPS-like outro/interlude.(18.25/20)

4. "Moving Red" (6:34) opens with a burst like "Get 'em Out By Friday" or one of the segments of "Supper's Ready." Impressive! (9/10) 

5. "Riding the Elephant" (3:38) some "new," non-Genesis sounds and stylings! An example of "What if Peter Gabriel had reunited with Tony, Mike, and Phil for some original material in the 1980s. Interesting. (9/10) 

6. "...and the Winner is..." (10:11) more "new" sounds with modern recording techniques used for recording "plug in" acoustic guitars and 1990s computer synth sounds in a "Supper's Ready" opening section-like opening. IT turns out that this is a very closely imitative, mini- , slowed-down, and modernized version of "Supper's Ready." The only real disappointment on the album. (16.5/20)

Total Time: 47:04

High marks are earned by imitation of Gabriel-era Genesis rather than the Brit's later music. If ever you wanted to hear "new" Genesis music from the 1971-75 period, this is both the band and the album to seek out. GREAT recording/sound engineering of technically perfectionistic compositions and performances. Drummer Roberto Leoni's playing is so crisp and enjoyable. Vocalist Simone Rossetti's duplication of Peter Gabriel's diction, range, and style is sheer perfection--remarkable. 

88.25 on the Fishscales = B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of retro prog. This band deserves more credit for both the incredible detail to which their imitation goes as well as to the fact that their compositions are all totally original, not remakes.

14. JAGA JAZZIST A Livingroom Hush

Why didn't anyone ever tell me how good the older Jaga Jazzist albums were? When you read something like, "The BBC named it the best jazz album of 2002," you want to check it out.

Line-up / Musicians:

- Andreas Mjøs / vibraphone, drums, marimba, percussion, keyboards

- Even Ormestad / bass, keyboards

- Harald Frøland / guitar, Fx, synth

- Ivar Chr. Johansen / piano, Fender Rhodes, organ, Roland Jupiter synth

- Jørgen Munkeby / flute & alto flute, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, keyboards

- Lars Horntveth / tenor & baritone saxophones, flute, bass clarinet, guitars, keyboards

- Lars Wabø / trombone

- Line Horntveth / tuba

- Martin Horntveth / drums, drum machines, percussion, keyboards

- Mathias Eick / trumpet, upright bass, keyboards

With:

- Jørgen Træen / keyboards, percussion, synth, electronics, production, mixing

- Frode Sævik / violin (4,9)

- Nils Olaf Solberg / viola (4,9)

1. "Animal Chin" (4:07) (8.75/10)

2. "Going Down" (5:20) My favorite song on the album. (10/10)

3. "Press Play" (1:16) (5/5)

4. "Airborne" (5:13) KOOP with orchestration. (8.75/10)

5. "Real Racecars Have Doors" (4:15) (8.5/10)

6. "Low Battery" (5:50) (8.5/10) 

7. "Midget" (2:32) (4.25/5)

8. "Made for Radio" (5:22) (8.5/10)

9. "Lithuania" (8:38) A top three song for me. (17.75/20)

10. "Cinematic" (6:22) totally experimental glitch editing á la Ryuichi Sakamoto, Carsten Nicolai, Christian Fennesz. Great if what you're wanting for your jazz takes place in the editing/production room and can't be replicated in a live setting (without computers). (8.25/10)

Total Time 48:55

Employing glitch technology is clever (it had to happen sometime, right?) but it's not, IMHO, the answer that jazz was needing.

88.25 on the Fishscales = B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of Jazz-Rock Fusion coming from the NuJazz sub-sub.

15. FLAMBOROUGH HEAD Defining the Legacy

Sounds like late 1980s artists trying to replicate/augment 1970s classic rock to me. Great bombast, great power prog in both the instrumental tapestries and vocal performances by Siebe-Rein Schaaf.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Siebe-Rein Schaaf / lead vocals, keyboards 
- André Cents / guitar
- Edo Spanninga / keyboards
- Marcel Derix / bass
- Koen Roozen / drums

1. "Defining The Legacy" (11:15) (17.5/20)
2. "House Of Cards" (9:16) (17.333/20)
3. "Garden Of Dreams" (12:35) (21.75/25)
4. "Assassin" (9:07) (17.75/20)
5. "Impulse (11:17) very powerful, committed vocal performance over heavy bombastic prog. (17.75/20)
6. Bridge To The Promised Land (6:37)
7. Mind-sculpture (7:58)

Total Time: 56:10

87.69 on the Fishscales = B/four stars; an excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection. 

16. STEREOLAB Sound-Dust

I am a sucker for Stereolab's music. (1997's Dots and Loops sits at #3 on my list of All-time Favorite Albums.) Sound-Dust is my second favorite from the group. The addition of horns is great but the more sectioned up songs doesn't always work for me as some parts are gorgeous and hook the listener in while the next part might be totally off-the-wall weird.

1. "Black Ants in Sound-Dust" (1:58) (3.5/5)

2. "Space Moth" (7:35) with it's 1:40 woodwind- and horn-laced intro, the song finally kicks into gear but doesn't really hook the listener until its fifth minute--and later when the horns finally return (12/15)

3. "Captain Easychord" (5:33) the piano-based song has many tracks weaving in and out including horns, steel guitar, and, of course, multiple vocal lines but it rarely feels as if all cylinders are firing (7.5/10)

4. "Baby Lulu" (5:13) (10/10)

5. "The Black Arts" (5:13) a gorgeous, hypnotic, emotional song (9.5/10)

6. "Hallucinex" (3:56) opens quite nicely, one of Stereolab's non-intro song that hooks you in right from the start, and the horns and acoustic guitars and tuned percussions are excellent, but it never reaches the heights of some of the others (8.5/10)

7. "Double Rocker" (5:33) for its first 2:27 this song moves along like a slow time-piece: hypnotic and soporific, then it kicks into third gear with a great sound and weave (9/10)

8. "Gus the Mynah Bird" (6:10) great, slow fade-in intro, then awesome body with gorgeous vocals; even the ambient mid-song shift and second half is pretty cool (9/10)

9. "Naught More Terrific Than Man" (4:10) one of the prettiest and best Stereolab songs ever. (10/10)

10. "Nothing to Do with Me" (3:38) is made so special by the 'dialogue' of vocals between Lætitia and Mary. (9.5/10)

11. "Suggestion Diabolique" (7:53) starts out sounding like the rare sinister-sounding S'lab song but then shifts in the second minute into the hypnotic, beautiful, PSYCHEDLELC FURS-like "jouer" section. The song springboards back and forth from positive to negative, yin and yang. (12.75/15)

12. "Les bon bon des raisons" (6:44) really showcases the vocal symbiosis of these two amazing vocalists with it's Beatles-esue opening half melodies but then morphs into a kind of space-satire piece for the second half. (12.75/15)

87.69 on the Fish scales = B+/4.5 stars, a near-masterpiece of progressive rock music and an excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection.

17. MAUDLIN OF THE WELL Bath

Companion release to Leaving Your Bodymap, I find it quite difficult to articulate why it is that I am more attracted to the former than to Bath. They both certainly have songs and sections that are totally mind- and soul-blowing. Bath may actually have sections that are more beautiful than those of Bodymap but I think Bath's lows are just lower.

1. "The Blue Ghost, Shedding Qliphoth" (7:57) starts the album off quite mellowly, very delicate acoustic guitar play, when drums finally come in, during the fifth minute, they are played with brushes. Saxes play gently. Beautiful guitar melodies. Quite a deceptive intro for what is to come at the 6:42 mark (and later--in the next song). A powerful song even though it is a bit drawn out. (15/15)

2. "They Aren't All Beautiful" (5:37) is pure doom metal, growl singing, screams, machine gun bass drum play, and loud metal guitar power chords. Still, the song is filled with many bizarre and very fleeting twists--acoustic, ambient pauses, and jazzy chord twangs. Not my favorite TD song. (6/10)

3. "Heaven and Weak" (7:43) begins mellowly, almost acoustic jazz-like, with a bass, acoustic guitar and jazz-style drum kit. MICHAEL FRANKS-like beautiful male voice enters at the 1:30 mark. Song gets amped up into heavy rock at the three minute mark and soon begins to sound a little FRANK ZAPPA-ish--even DEVIN TOWNSEND-like. Amazing guitar riffs at 4:30 introduce full-blown metal dance. Treated voice takes the lead at 5:34, song comes a little down, then a bridge/interlude of harmonics and snare and bass drum beating before everything escalates into full-blown space shredding. Cue DEVIN to close. (12/15)

4. "(Interlude 1)" (1:38) is a slighlty jazzy instrumental of two acoustic guitars with delicate wah-pedaled electric guitar lead taking the melody over the top. Nice song! (4.5/5)

5. "The Ferryman" (7:51) opens with some dramatic and ominous solo organ play. This gives way in the second minute to some very subtly played drums which are then joined around the 1:30 mark by some equally delicate guitars, strummed and soloed. Then at 2:40 the wall of metal comes crashing in--with three different metal voices: a growler, a screamer, and a couple of melancholy disembodied ghosts. The fourth voice, a female, is actually quite lovely if a bit pitchy. The reappearance of the organ--over/under the metal thrashing--is quite cool, and supports the ghostly feel of the voices quite nicely--and actuallly takes the metal edge off of the guitar play, bringing them down to almost "rock" level. The Harry Potter-like death voices in the watery cave in the final minute are a bit bizarre, but, I guess, very effective in perpetuating and completing that Charon/River Styx theme here. (12/15)

6. "Marid's Gift of Art" (3:42) sounds of water splashes and drips (carrying over from Charon's pole-work of the previous song) opens the song before a pleasant, laid back picked/strummed acoustic guitar and background electric fade in. The vocal (to a child?) begins around 1:20. The vocal mirrors the guitar work throughout. Nice trumpet and cello integration in the last half of the song. (8/10)

7. "Girl with A Watering Can" (8:45) opens with some beautiful folkish solo from a read instrument (bassoon?) before an equally beautiful band sets up a full, delicate foundation for the beautiful female voice (the "Girl"?) to join in around the 1:30 mark. The tempo seems to be being played with a bit as the girl sings her tale, yet the constant bass rhythm betrays the truth. Very interesting. A coda and bridge into a new section is accomplished with the use of a sequence of heavy guitar chords. The new stand on which the female singer pours forth her public voice is still quite lovely. At 5:30 a soft male voice takes over vocal lead, as if to tell his perspective of the Girl. At 6:20 a metal guitar and synth solo section are played out to great effect and emotional display. The final minute maintains that open pace while the soft-spoken male returns to sing about the girl's flower garden and his missing her. Great song! One of my three favorites on the album. (20/20)

8. "Birth Pains of Astral Projection" (10:35) opens with a guitar, bass and drum foundation which has a bit of an Old West flavor to it. Very soothing as if played next to the fire under the midnight stars. Gentle saxophone joins for a bit just before the two minute mark at the same time a single sustained and wavering note from an electric guitar screeches menacingly in the background. By 3:30 the song shifts into heavy metal mode (though ever retain some calmer, less frenetic quality to it) as the doom growl voices emerge. At 6:40 Toby and the beautiful music side comes back. Great guitar work (lead and rhythm) in the ninth minute. One of my other favorites. (20/20)

9. "(Interlude 2)" (2:13) uses the splashing in a bathtub for its rhythm track with acoustic guitar and horns. Nothing special and a little gimicky but okay. (4/5)

10. "Geography" (4:26) is acoustic guitar based with a straightforward Toby vocal and some Frippertronics-like electric guitar sliding around in the more dynamic parts. Nothing too extraordinary. (8/10)

A very good album with some great TD/moTW highlights, just not as mind-blowing as its sister album.

87.6 on the Fish scales = B+/4.5 star album; a near-masterpiece of innovative progressive rock music rated down for its inconsistencies (one really bad song).

18. ANATHEMA A Fine Day to Exit 

This is Britain's Experimental/Post Metal masters sixth studio album release. They just keep getting better. 

Line-up / Musicians:
- Vincent Cavanagh / vocals, guitar
- Daniel Cavanagh / guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Les Smith / keyboards, programming
- Dave Pybus / bass guitar (1,2,5-9)
- John Douglas / drums
With:
- Lee Douglas / vocals (6)
- Nick Griffiths / backing vocals
- Pete Brown / backing vocals

1. "Pressure" (6:44) two classic-sounding chord hits of piano open this before full blues band enters with a Led Zep-like rhythm track beneath singer Vince Cavanagh's plaintive voice. Interesting presence of a rock chorus giving this song an uncharacteristic-for-the-band ABACAB structure. (8.5/10)

2. "Release" (5:47) I like the MASSIVE ATTACK trip hop electronica effect introduced at the end of the second minute. (8.667/10)

3. "Looking Outside Inside" (6:23) a gorgeous if simple first half leads to quite a startlingly different second half. Quite predictive of future band OCEANSIZE (except for the straight time tempo). Excellent song. A top three song. (9.25/10)

4. "Leave No Trace" (4:46) raunchy guitar and organ open this before rhythm section joins in and takes over, leading the band into a pleasant PINK FLOYD (in the future: AIRBAG) soundscape over which Vince sings another pleasant ABACAB-fashioned song. Nice melodies and sounds. (8.75/10)

5. "Underworld" (4:09) pretty innocuous, perhaps even annoying sound bedding for Vince to sing over. (or, rather, within: that unbroken strumming distorted guitar is so far forward). The low point of the album. (7.75/10)

6. "Barriers" (5:53) another excellent song which also predates the sound and style of a future band, THE MARS VOLTA--this despite a very OCEANSIZE-like chorus. (This is so unfair to be becoming acquainted with this album after falling in love with the band Oceansize. The comparisons should read out as more complimentary.) Nice presence of female vocals in drummer John Douglas' sister, Lee. (Her much-deserved time in the limelight will also come in the future.) Another top three song. (9.25/10)

7. "Panic (3:30) sounds like LUKA BLOOM! Cool! then it goes PIXIES for a minute before the band cuts out for the lead vocalist to continue his insistent vocal. Great performance from this vocalist! (It doesn't sound like the same vocalist from the previous songs.) Very different. I like it! (9/10)

8. "A Fine Day to Exit" (6:49) the floating infinity guitar (pedal or lap steel?) used throughout this album is amazing. A very cool if unexceptional song that has quite a nice hypnotic effect on me. (13.33/15)

9. "Temporary Peace" (18:26) I find it unjustifiable to give musical credit to over nine minutes of silence and non-studio sounds and home recordings. (17.5/20):
- I. Temporary Peace (5:50)
- II. crashing waves (2:02)
- III. sound of footsteps and voices (2:30)
- IV. 5-minute silence (5:05)
- V. In The Dog's House (acoustic finale) (3:00)

Total Time: 62:27

A "Experimental/Post Metal" band that has, in my opinion, worked at a very high and consistent level throughout their career. A Fine Day to Exit, despite the opinion of others, is my favorite Anathema album of the Naughties. Listening to this album makes me wonder how many other young artists have been strongly influenced/inspired by this band's work.

87.52 on the Fish scales = B/four stars; a very nice addition to any prog lover's music collection.

P.S. The sound of A Fine Day to Exit foreshadows the arrival of another English band to the prog scene--though this one is somehow thrown into the "Psychedelic/Space Rock" subgenre: OCEANSIZE.

19. GREEN CARNATION Light of Day, Day of Darkness

Line-up / Musicians:

- Bjørn Harstad / lead guitar, EBow, slide effects

- Terje Vik Schei "Tchort" / acoustic & electric guitars, arranger, co-producing & mixing

- Endre Kirkesola / Hammond B3, synth, sitar, string & voice arrangements, co-producing & mixing

- Stein Roger Sordal / bass

- Anders Kobro / drums

With:

- Opera choir

- Childrens choir

- Synne Soprana / vocals

- Kjetil Nordhus / vocals

- Jan Kenneth T. / vocals

- Roger Rasmussen / screaming vocals

- Damien Aleksander / child's voice

- Arvid Thorsen / saxophone

- Bernt A Moen / string arrangements

1. "Light of Day, Day of Darkness" (60:06) A difficult song to review because it is not broken down into parts as many bands do (including commons-membership band In The Woods). I will have to say that there is very little in the first 24 minutes that wows me; it is all more simplistic and straightforward (and less engaging, less-charged) than I was expecting. The vocals and music are quite underwhelming. (My expectations come from my 2020 discovery of the band through their 2020 release, Leaves of Yesteryear). The instrumental section beginning in the 25th minute, however, is awesome; it's as if the band has finally clicked into full sync and full and enthusiastic engagement. Even the group vocals that follow are more spirited than anything that came before. Since the Bandcamp edition that I'm listening to won't let the album exist as one 60 minute song, has it split into two parts, I'd give the first half, (32:45) a score of (55/65)

The second half (27:20) opens with six minutes of minimalist Latin soundtrack mood music over which guest vocalist Synne Soprana vocalises Clare Torry style. Fellow metal band HYPNO5E used the same palette and style as these first thirteen minutes to great effect in their own 2018 masterpiece soundtrack Alba - Les ombres arrantes. At 13:11 a series of "church bells" signals a shift toward more thick metal-like walls of sound--as well as the first time we here this lead vocalist with his Greg Lake-like tone and presence. All instruments play in sync during the sixteenth and seventeenth minutes until some guitar effects and growlish-chorale vocals enter and take us deeper into the darkness. Porcessed lead vocal at the end of the eighteenth minute gives an eerie robot/machine-like effect. Then the sound palette suddenly shifts over the bass and drums to a Middle Eastern style wiht sitar, string synths, and operatic female vocalise. By the 20:00 mark, we have somehow seemlessly morphed back to metal (the appearance of the Hammond and slide guitar helps). Machine gun bass drum in the 22nd announces a kind of crescendo. A prolongedly slow start leads to a very entertaining and satisfying middle and sad, pull-on-your-heart-strings ending. I can't say this is great music but I like it; it's eminently listenable--and truly proggy. (50/55) 

Total Time 60:06

87.5 on the Fishscales = B/four stars; an excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection. 

20. RADIOHEAD Amnesiac

It would seem here that Thom and company are trying to imitate, pay homage to, or evoke the experimental music of the 1960s BEATLES. They also seem to have become quite enamored of New Orleans music and jazz sounds, stylings, and motifs.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Thom Yorke / vocals, guitar
- Ed O'Brien / guitar, backing vocals
- Jonny Greenwood / lead guitar, piano, organ, orchestral arrangements (2,8)
- Colin Greenwood / bass
- Phil Selway / drums
With:
- The Orchestra Of St. Johns (2,8)
- John Lubbock / conductor (2,8)
- Jimmy Hastings / clarinet (11)
- Pete Strange / trombone (11)
- Humphrey Lyttelton / trumpet (11)
- Paul Bridge / double bass (11)
- Adrian Macintosh / drums (11)

1. "Packed Like Sardines in A Crushed Tin Box" (4:00) interesting start but then goes wrong. (8.5/10)

2. "Pyramid Song" (4:48) Excellent top to bottom--and very experimental. Love the Beatles-like orchestration. My favorite song on the album. (9.75/10)

3. "Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors" (4:07) playing with trip hop and glitch and scratch electro-editing. I like it! (8.75/10)

4. "You and Whose Army?" (3:11) almost retro 1950s blues turning into BEATLES piano-based psychedelia. (8.75/10)

5. "I Might Be Wrong" (4:53) electronic opening joined by BUSH-like guitar. It really goes nowhere else until 3:50 when all drops out and some interesting Bayou-bluesy electronica finishes it. (8.25/10)

6. "Knives Out" (4:14) interesting interplay from the three guitarists and nice vocal melodies. (8.75/10)

7. "Morning Bell/Amnesiac" (3:14) another song that contains elements that are very reminiscent of BEATLES music circa 1967. (9/10)

8. "Dollars & Cents" (4:51) guitar play like some of the early electrified guitars of the 1950s or 1960s with a bit of a jazz or bassa nova feel and rhythm to it. A top three song for me. I love the playfulness of the vocals and drums. (9.5/10)

9. "Hunting Bears" (2:01) Bayou blues. Not enough to make this one viable other than as an experimental interlude. (3.75/5)

10. "Like Spinning Plates" (3:57) highly experimental sound engineering over which Thom starts whining halfway through. (8.25/10)

11. "Life In A Glasshouse" (4:34) Dixie blues-house horns! Interesting. (8.5/10)

Total Time: 43:50

I appreciate all of the experimental melding of very old riffs and sounds with contemporary innovations in electronica, but often the songs feel quite monotonous to a lyric-deaf listener like me. 

87.38 on the Fishscales = B/four stars; an interesting collection of songs meeting the usual Radiohead standard for experimentation and mood. 

21. SEVEN REIZH Strinkadenn Ys

The first of Claude Mignon's four-part musical realization of Gérard Le Dortz's "Enora" novels.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Claude Mignon / electric & acoustic guitars, keyboards, composer, arrangements
- Gérard Le Dortz / sampler, backing vocals
With:
- Bleunwenn Mevel/ vocals
- Farid Aït Siameur / vocals
- Cyril Froger / vocals
- Gwenhaël Mével / bombarde, flute
- Gwendall Mevel / flute
- Konan Mevel / Uillean pipes
- Olivier Carole / bass
- Gurvan Mevel / drums, percussion
- Jean-Yves Herlédan / arrangements (6)

1. "Selaou" (10:17) starts out prog rockin' before going gorgeous spacious in the third minute. Of course, very theatric with the multiple vocalists playing their parts. Would love to see the stage performance of this play--all four parts! (17.5/20)
2. "Dornskrid" (3:10) (/10)
3. "Sovajed a-feson" (6:02) (/10)
4. "Naer ar galloud" (6:49) (/15)
5. "Hybr'Ys" (9:35) (18/20)
6. "Kan Kêr'Ys" (6:25) (9/10)
7. "Liñvadenn" (5:03) (9/10)
8. "Tad ha Mamm" (8:02) (12.5/15)
9. "Enora ha Maël" (4:40) (10/10)
10. "Mall eo monet da Ys" (8:50) (17.75/20)

Total Time: 76:53

Not quite the polished masterpiece that the few reviewers here on PA have raved about here, this one reminds me, qualitatively, of CIRRUS BAY's Stepping into Elsewhere in that there are some brilliant ideas, brilliant melodies, but not quite developed as far as could be taken. To be sure there are many absolutely breathtaking passages, but they often come over the top of rather banal, straightforward passages of rock chord progressions or steady backbeats (I hear a lot of GENESIS' ABACAB throughout this album's longer, rockier songs) over which the soli are then performed. The vocals and keys and folkier, 'non-rock' instruments are superb. The IONA, SALLY & MIKE OLDFIELD, XII ALFONSO and ALAN STIVELL--and even ENYA and CLANNAD--comparisons are quite understandable. I'd add not only GENESIS (big time!) but DUNWICH and even SURVIVOR. I consider all of the album's songs to be of at least 4 star quality (though the "ABACAB" similarities of "Mall eo monet de YS" are a bit too striking for my tolerance), with no less than seven songs earning 5 stars, but the album has too many spots of what I'll call 'simplicity' for me to give it an overall 5 star "masterpiece" rating. The stretch of diverse masterpieces that flow from "Hybr'Ys" (18/20), through the sublime instrumental "Kan KérYs" (9/10) the amazing eery Arab-sounding "Liñvadenn" (9/10), the VON HERTZEN BROTHERS-like "Tad ha Mamm" (12/15) and the gorgeous, gorgeous "Enora ha Maël" (10/10) are what make prog so special! Perfect captivation of the gambit of emotions of the human experience.

A beautiful album--highly recommended--especially for those who love melody and subtlety.

87.0 on the Fish scales = 4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of progressive rock music.

22. TRANSATLANTIC Bridge Across Forever

An album and band whose imitative/derivative sound had repelled me for years has finally earned it's respect and admiration. 

Line-up / Musicians:

- Neal Morse / vocals, piano, Hammond, Minimoog, Fender Rhodes, synth, addit. guitars, mandolin

- Roine Stolt / electric & acoustic guitars, Mellotron, additional keyboards, percussion, vocals

- Pete Trewavas / bass, Taurus bass pedals, vocals

- Mike Portnoy / drums, vocals

With:

- Chris Carmichael / violin, viola & cello (1,4)

- Keith Mears / saxophone (1)

- The "Elite" choir / backing vocals (1)

1. "Duel With The Devil" (26:43) : (42/50)

- i) Motherless Children - incredible opening two minutes, but then things become so derivative. At the end of the fifth minute the vocals begin. So much like ASIA. Fairly good melodies. Good performances though a bit loose and out-of-sync in places. (13/15)

- ii) Walk Away - at the seven minute mark this odd pseudo-acoustic, pseudo-folk JON ANDERSON-like song is inserted. It amps up for the chorus while trying to retain fairy melodies from its start before launching into a full-on prog assault of bombastic proportions--guitar power chords and Hammond on full display. (7.75/10)

- iii) Silence of the Night - at 11:35 everything slows down as if in a jazz porno dream. Talking wah-guitar soloing over wavering Fender Rhodes. Too sexy! And then add sax! Too much! And to come out of it with PINK FLOYD's "Eclipse" from Dark Side of the Moon is just too audacious, even impudent. (8.25/10)

- iv) You're Not Alone - at 15:53 we change channels and find ourselves bouncing along a 1970s pop hit by AMBROSIA or THE LITTLE RIVER BAND. (4/5)

- v) Almost Home - at 18:40 we have our final shift into a very TFK/YES-"Soon Oh Soon"-like steel pedal guitar solo before they launch into a Relayer-like instrumental passage. The vocal section that comes next is remarkable for it's "Elite" choir gospel-church-like backing vocals. This is wonderful! This is followed by a very TFK-familiar climax and finish. (9/10)

2. "Suite Charlotte Pike" (14:30) (29/35) = 82.86:

- i) If She Runs - opens with a fade in to a jam like something from a PRINCE concert. At the end of the second minute the band congeals into a rock tune to support a EAGLES/BEATLES-like vocal section. The finishing instrumental section is very BEATLES-ish (intentionally so). Odd with all of the band members' studio commentary included. (8.5/10) 

- ii) Mr. Wonderful - at 4:40 we move into more 1960s styles, mostly the BEACH BOYS, despite Roine Stolt's signature voice in the lead vocal spot. Pleasant. (4.25/5)

- iii) Lost and Found pt. 1 - a brief Richard Wright/PINK FLOYDian synth solo (4/5)

- iv) Temple of the Gods - at 8:25 we move into a more aggressive passage of BEATLES-medley mix. (3.5/5) 

- v) Motherless Children / If She Runs (reprise) - at 10:55 we move into a mellow reprise of the Motherless Children theme and lyrics from the previous song. Nice guitar solo in the thirteenth minute preceding the return to the opening theme of "If She Runs." As is typical of the Stolt projects, the finale is the best part. (8.75/10) 

3. "Bridge Across Forever" (5:33) Neal and piano. (8.5/10)

4. "Stranger In Your Soul" (26:05) (50.5/55):

- i) Sleeping Wide Awake - cheap synth strings intro precedes "Watcher of the Skies"-like entrance and beginning before Yes bass and ASIA-like synth bring us up and into the organ-dominated motif that precedes the vocals. The vocal section--which is shared alternately and, later, collectively, by Neal and at least two other members--is very nice: simple music that supports the nice melodies and stylings--until (8.75/10)

- ii) Hanging in the Balance - the jarring leap into thickness and heaviness at the six minute mark. This section is well constructed--though the drums feel out of sync with the sound of the rest of the music. (8.5/10)

- iii) Lost and Found pt. 2 - around 9:45 we move into this Southern rock-feeling passage, which decays into a pleasant little interlude of BEATLES-like pastoral bliss before jumping into a full-powered, bass-thumping instrumental section for an incredible solo from guitarist Roine Stolt. Weird then to go back to the BUGGLES-like vocal section. (8.75/10)

- iv) Awakening the Stranger - at 12:35 we descend into the crystalline waters piano with dreamy guitar, synth, and vocal incidentals in the background. At 14:15 this pretty section evolves into a very pleasant plaintive vocal performance from Neal over his piano. Great melodies, great nuanced support from the others. (10/10)

- v) Slide - This then moves seemlessly and magically into a multi-layered "strings" passage. These two passages make up the best "song" I've ever heard from TMPTE. (5/5)

- vi) Stranger In Your Soul - at 17:40 we slide into a new section in which there is a very impressive display of organ, bass, and drum mastery right off the bat. A PORCUPINE TREE-like vocal over jazzy drums and piano interrupts this temporarily, but the heavy organ-bass-drums motif reappears here and there to remind us that it's all part of the same song--and then by the 20-minute mark we are fully returned to it for a prolonged instrumental passage. Solos by synths, guitar, bass proceed to fill the next few minutes. At the end of the 22nd minute we return to the vocal motif, only with a little more power and thickness behind Neal's voice. (9.5/10)

Total Time 72:51

It sounds and feels as if the boys had a lot of fun playing the music on this record, but it also feels as if it was fairly easy to put together these songs--the motifs and styles of which have so many familiar predecessors and models.

86.67 on the Fishscales = B/four stars; a very nice addition to any prog lover's music collection--but definitely worth it if only to hear the wonderful epic, "Stranger In Your Soul." 

ANGE Culinaire Lingus

Yes! The crazy Franchement are back with some new and really wonderful theatric prog! 

Line-up / Musicians:
- Christian Décamps / lead vocals, synth, piano (2,5), acoustic guitar (3,9), narrator (9), producer
- Hassan Hajdi / electric & acoustic (9) guitars, banjo (4), lead & backing vocals (8)
- Tristan Décamps / keyboards, piano (2,7), programming (1,4,10), kazoo (4), lead (7) & backing vocals
- Thierry Sidhoum / bass, double bass (4)
- Hervé Rouyer / drums, percussion, tambourine (3), drum programming (6)
With:
- Caroline Crozat / vocals (1,5,10,11)
- Gilles Pequinot / violin (3,10), bagpipes (3), recorder & jew's harp (10)
- Thommy Emmanuel / guitar (12)
- Claude Demet / guitar (12)
- Dan Ar Braz / guitar (12)
- Norbert Krief / guitar (12)
- Serge Cuenot / guitar (12)
- Paul Personne / guitar (12)
- Jean-Pascal Boffo / guitar (12)
- Jan Akkerman / guitar (12)

1. "Jusqu'Où Iront-Ils" (8:55) (17.5/20)
2. "Cueillir Les Fruits Du Sérail (6:03)
3. "Adrénaline (4:02)
4. "Farces Et Attrapes (2:40)
5. "Culinaire Lingus (5:05)
6." Les Odeurs De Cousine (5:51)
7." Intérieur Nuit (3:28)
8. "Univers Et Nirvana (3:51)
9. "Gargantua (5:25)
10. "On Sexe (6:32) (8.875/10)
11. "Cadavres Exquis" (10:27) (19.75/20)
12. "Autour D'Un Cadavre Exquis" (11:34) * (18/20)

* Bonus track

Total Time: 73:53

Special Mention:

BILL BRUFORD'S EARTHWORKS The Sound of Surprise

An album of music that doesn't really fit into the "progressive rock music" category by any way, shape, or means, drummer extraordinaire Bill Bruford continues to gather young jazz musicians willing to push the boundaries of modern improvisational JAZZ--and here he's recruited a true power trio to help him realize his jazz-rock vision. You go, Bill!

Line-up / Musicians:

- Bill Bruford / drums

- Steve Hamilton / piano

- Patrick Clahar / Tenor And Soprano saxophones

- Mark Hodgson / bass

1. "Revel Without A Pause" (7:33) pretty standard sax jazz. (13/15)

2. "Triplicity" (6:22) opening with one minute of wonderful solo Bill, the Latinized music that follows shifts into straight melodic jazz and back to Latin-rhythm base over an over, several times a minute, to great effect:  it's really cool and different! Definitely a rhythmist's song. And filled with great, lush melodies from all instrumentalists. Modern jazz at its most sublime! (10/10)

3. "The Shadow Of A Doubt" (6:07) awesome melody start that moves into a beautiful, emotional soprano sax led ballad format. Gorgeous. Definitely a saxophone player's song--and a masterpiece of such--but maestro Steve Hamilton's piano gets its time in the spotlight as well. Songs like this remind me of how wonderful jazz can be. (10/10)

4. "Teaching Vera To Dance" (8:14) this one opens with a long bass solo before exploding into an almost-funky little ditty. If there's a weakness in this song, it is, unbelievably, in the drums: they seem a bit off time and "tired." (Intentionally so?) Not as melodic or engaging as the previous songs, this is more like the cold modern jazz that I've become accustomed to since the 1980s--mechanical and lacking heart. (12.5/15)

5. "Half Life" (5:18) straight time from the drums and yet syncopation from the others! How unlike Bill! It does create a tension that builds interest and intrigue. Stylist switch to a swing at the 2-minute mark makes it even more interesting as piano and sax continue on as if nothing has changed. Nice LYLE MAYS-like piano solo in the fourth minute (which turns CHICK COREA-like towards the end) as Bill and bassist Mark Hodgson do interesting things beneath. Cool song! (9/10)

6. "Come To Dust" (9:56) meandering piano play at the beginning has a gorgeous JOE SAMPLE Carmel kind of feel to it. When the rest of the band joins in at the end of the second minute it keeps the pace at a very slow, introductory, and exploratory place. In the piano solo central to the song's middle I hear the heart-felt daydreaming of VINCE GUARALDI. Another exemplary jazz masterpiece. (19/20)

7. "Cloud Cuckoo Land" (6:05) more fairly standard jazz. Nothing too special or innovative here. (8.5/10)

8. "Never The Same Way Once" (7:22) This one has a very CHICK COREA/RETURN TO FOREVER feel to it (despite not having guitar or anything electric involved). The RTF/Chick sound, style, and pacing is so distinctive; this is quite a remarkable replication. Even the bass solo is pure Stanley Clarke! In the end, all I can say is, "Wow!" (14/15)

9. "The Wooden Man Sings and The Stone Woman Dances" (7:42) Bill finally lets loose--forgets all time constraints--and goes wild--but in a subtle way! Just listening to the high-hat play is enough to cause me to smile and, often, drop my jaw. Then to listen how synced in Bill's kick drum and Mark's bass are. Remarkable! On another run through I could hear how Steve's piano and Patrick Clahar's soprano sax have the same amazing entrainment going on. This band must have had a lot of fun playing with one another. Then there is the final two minutes of the song where Patrick leads the band on a rampage the likes of which Chick & Return to Forever could only achieve in their very prime. Great work, Patrick! (14/15)

Total Time: 58:46

Some pretty standard saxophone-led jazz peppered with the odd syncopation or unusual time signature, but impeccably performed and recorded. I'm not sure how this one sneaks into the "progressive rock" genre--I suppose only on the coattails of Mr. Bruford's name and legacy.

91.66 on the Fishscales = A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of modern JAZZ--putting on display just the kind of subtle nuances that are needed to keep jazz fresh and "progressive" yet keeping the music accessible, memorable, and beautiful.

P.S. Very cool album cover! 

The Rankings for 2001

1. KARDA ESTRA Eve

2. HAMADRYAD Conservation of Mass

3. BJORK Vespertine

4. MAUDLIN OF THE WELL Leaving Your Bodymap

5. TOOL Lateralus

6. NEXUS Metanoia

7. 

MOTORPSYCHO Phanerothyme

8. PEKKA POHJOLA Views

9. BUBBLEMATH Such Fine Particles of the Universe

10. KOENJI HYAKKEI Nivraym

11. PÄR LINDH PROJECT Veni, Vidi, Vici

12. NO-MAN Returning Jesus

13. THE WATCH Ghost

14. JAGA JAZZIST A Livingroom Hush

15. FLAMBOROUGH HEAD Defining the Legacy

16. STEREOLAB Sound-Dust 

17. MAUDLIN OF THE WELL Bath

18. ANATHEMA A Fine Day to Exit 

19. GREEN CARNATION Light of Day, Day of Darkness

20. SEVEN REIZH Strinkadenn Ys

Honorable Mentions: 

BILL BRUFORD'S EARTHWORKS The Sound of Surprise

RADIOHEAD Amnesiac

PALLAS The Cross & The Crucible

OPETH Blackwater Park

PICCHIO DAL POZZO Camere Zimmer Rooms

TRANSATLANTIC Bridge Across Forever