ICE CYCLES

Strange this world is, when in a prog forum there are many alternative rock bands very popular and highly rated but some projects, maybe with more progressive arguments, tend to be overlooked and in the case of Platypus, it's completely unfair.

But well, this project should talk by itself: John Myung (Dream Theater), Rod Morgenstein (Dixie Dregs), Derek Sherinian (Planet X) and Ty Tabor (King X). This top list of musicians made an interesting twist: composing alternative rock with some flashes of intricate prog, but very brief. Maybe it's that the fans of the first three bands mentioned expected more instrumental stuff but they sound more like King X, the least prog act of them. What I found interesting is that this project sounds like the heavy era of Porcupine Tree but better, more musical and more catchy at the same time.

You can't doubt the quality of the musicians and their performances, it's almost perfect. The songs are catchy and alternative, which is nice to fresh things up, and the vocals of Ty made it more catchy and nice. Good keyboard solos and some guitar solos as well, but the focus is to make songs interesting rather to do an exhibition of techniques. The result is very nice and without being plain alternative rock, they don't pretend to play intricate music, just to pass a great time. The album is pretty short and it's nice, check the mini epic Partial to the Bean composed by 7 parts, but all the album is good, fresh and entertaining.

I recommend this album to any King X fans, but it can work for either PT fans (which there are thousands out there) or even Oceansize fans. Don't overlook this album, you could be missing some nice music. 3 stars, good album.