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Review:
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The first thing in noticed when I received my copy
of Aquaplanage's debut disc was the band line-up. A 2 guitar
(one rhythm! Hmmm!) and 2 vocalist attack , with a bass
and drums section. Leader, guitarist, vocalist Robert Illesh
also handles a bevy of assorted vintage keyboards as well
as massive doses of flute. A somewhat unique set-up that
nevertheless enchants from the get-go on "Ode to Grey Mornings"
(now how British is that!), a sultry mixture of Jethro Tull
, Fruupp, early Styx, Fireballet with hints of Gentle Giant
(the vocal work) and Canterbury (the guitar/organ/synth
interplay), keeping things masterfully upbeat and propulsive.
Illesh unleashes (pun intended) a series of blistering leads
with the bruising bass shining the path. With Tantalus keyboardist
Max Hunt on board, the mood gets highly electronic, synths
bubbling and sequencers gurgling, recalling dense prog symphonics
that transcend genres. Avian sound effects put this epic
to rest.
The delicious "The Sands of Time" is a very successful
Middle Eastern motif that immediately pleases, a clever
proggy take on a little embarked style with astute vocals,
both voices contrasting nicely within the Arabic orchestrations.
A sheer prog classic in many ways, slashing guitars dueling
with Bedouin horns, as if trying to provoke some crazed
cobra into striking and spewing its venom. I stand and applaud.
The lazy "Nature's Sunday" starts off deliberately soporific
and minimalist, taking its sweet psychedelic time in blooming,
perhaps a bit too long and too weepy but I guess there are
fans out there who like to "breeze" through records (snort!).
This one just doesn't fit in the scenario, regardless but
then the mid-section blow-out explodes in a sudden contrast
that rocks à la Blue Oyster Cult., especially the dual guitar
rampage plowing mercilessly ahead, a fluttering synth adding
some Dominance and Submission to the events. Bizarre but
edit the too long intro next time, lads!
"Solara" is an instrumental, mainly keyboard exercise
that opens with elegant piano, rousing organ blasts, some
church organ exaltations, a searchlight synthesizer zephyr
scouring the horizon, a total winner for us ivory fans!
The mood rapidly enters the ponderous and wistful expanses
of thoughtful ambient electronica a la Tim Blake before
whistling its way back to the piano and its refined charisma.
I stand up again and clap! That's twice now. The title track
announces its fleeting atmospheric presence, with delightful
pastoral guitar themes encouraged by a lonely piano, a somber
violin and then the rest of the string quartet, an aromatic
slice of progressive orchestral folk music that will thrill
Anthony Phillips fans, "par exemple".
I personally enjoy lushly relaxing music like this,
especially when it succeeds in awakening romantic souvenirs
of a bygone age. That three now, my palms hurt! "Heaven's
Gate", by contrast is perhaps way more immediate in flirting
with saccharine themes, a proggy Eric Carmen if you like,
flush with cheesy romantic fluff that is just too corny
for me. The guitar parts are sloppy, the piano redundant
and the vocal, while highly polished, is Krispy Kreme in
double doses. Toss this one, lads! I even prefer "All by
Myself", okay? Yuck! "Song to Stand Above Them All" is frankly
no better, the Styx/Journey/Saga stamp way too drippy, creating
a wholly predictable mood, I mean I stopped listening to
this kind of simple drivel along time ago. The dual guitars
are boring attempts at Southern pickin' and the funky high-pitched
vocals, you sort of wonder if they listened to the Eagles
(the solo is right out of Joe Walsh territory), only the
rare synth give this any color. Terrible !
They finally snap out of their temporary lapse of reason
by returning to something original and melodic , the graceful
"Theme' that strangely recalls the glory days of Camel,
thanks to the bluesy guitar solo that would make Latimer
smile. I stand but I am confused now. Guys, stick to the
prog, evacuate the AOR. Which is sadly how they finish the
disc, imposing another poopy piece of pop, a Christmas song
for crying out loud ! "One Star". I mean please! My head
shakes in bewilderment. Oh well, the good tracks are amazing
but you will need scissors for this one. The next one will
determine the future of Aquaplanage. Tarcisio is absolutely
correct, a mystery looking for its own sound is what we
have here. Barely four puzzled aquastars.
Tszirmay
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