THE SUN ALSO RISES

In 2004, when metal craze was sweeping the Northwestern European school of neo-prog, sound of Netherland's Knight Area (at the time, the keyboardist Gerben Kleizinga's family and friends project) remained footed in the 80s, with its airy guitars, poppy synths and upfront bass. The moods typically range from adult-oriented pop rock to folkish (with flute and accordion) to harder rocking. This music is highly melodic and accesible, yet the 5-minute songs pack a lot of melodic changes. If there's a word to apply to Knight Area here, it's solid. Notghing new under the sun, of course, but albums are invariably pleasant, neither front-loaded nor back-loaded, remarkably even throughout and balanced among the instruments.