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Review:
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This is the third album from the project masterminded
by Hugo Flores, with Jessica Lehto on angelic Tarja esque
vocals who we last met on Beto Vazquez's recent Infinity
album Existence. Hugo also supplies some excellent vocals
as well as playing all the instruments. For those new to
the band, their music is around Ayreon, Star One and Mattson,
producing gigantic sci-fi prog metal of epic proportions,
with immense imagination, intelligence and ambition. It
tells the story of the evolution of an electronic molecule
into a living entity. The songs swirl from quiet reflection
to frenetic power, full of dreamy melodies, soaring refrains,
rich synths, twinkling piano, driving guitars and skilful
technical musicianship, all superbly produced. Highlights
include the monumental 'Protonic Stream' with it's touch
of Mike Oldfield and lovely melodies at the start, the heavy
but rocking 'Obsessical', the more ethereal and soaring
'Back to Sleep' and the suitably thundering and pounding
'Dimension Crusher'. I do have a couple of problems, firstly
with the clattering drum machine that bashes away frenetically
rather than keep a steady beat, does things that are physically
impossible (unless the drummer is an octopus), and changes
speed, all very disconcerting. Secondly the music can change
suddenly without warning and sometimes it sounds like three
different songs being played simultaneously. At times this
can lead to a confused, disjointed and over complicated
sound, it could do with a touch more of the KISS method,
keep it simple stupid, because when they get the balance
right the music is absolutely awesome. This is an album
that will take a fair few spins to get your head around
and if you don't mind the drum machine then you will find
that this is a richly rewarding album for prog metal fans,
with something new to discover with every listen. Their
website is http://www.myspace.com/projectcreation
and it it should be available from all good dream factories.
a sublimely complex 8 out of 10.
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