SAFE

I got this about three weeks ago, having pondered on whether to buy it or not for quite some time. I love Moonshine, and wondered if this was as good. Reading the reviews didn't really help me, but in the end I thought I would take the chance. This album is, to my ears, just as progressive as Moonshine. It is a long cd, nearly 80 mins, But it is top quality. I suppose, in parts, it is a little poppier, but it holds together well. I can't say there is a track that I don't like, though I suppose 'Stranded' would be my least favourite; it has a good melody, but it drags on a little too long really, with the chorus cropping up more than is necessary. Not a bad song though. Hard to say what my favourite song is here, but I do like all three 'Cages Of The Mind' tracks. The first one is done in a very funny way, with Robert Amirian singing in English, but with a different accent than normal, I think the band were messing about here. It only lasts a few seconds, then a couple of things are said in Polish, and the track stops. Then part 2 kicks in, with the first verse the same as part 1, but sung normally this time. The third part, later on, reprises all this, but in a more orchestral way. Very good. 'Eight Kisses' as has been mentioned in other reviews here, is also very good, with Mirek Gil's guitar work more to the fore. Title track 'Safe' is a fave of mine, with a very catchy chorus. And the bonus track would have sat happily on Moonshine. Once it gets going, it is not too dissimilar to 'The Blues' from that album. The strength of this band is their consistency. Ok, their songs have a certain style that you can detect a mile off, but they are always well crafted. The keyboard work is, for me, the single most important factor to their sound; never overdone, very lush and atmospheric, and providing a full backdrop for the rest of the instruments. Kris Palczewski is very talented, and does a fine job with the arrangements. Witness the opening track, a lovely instrumental 'The Winter Song', composed by him, to see what I mean. He is also Satellite's keyboard wizz on the Evening Games album. And his style is exactly the same. 'One Of Their Kind' and 'Made Again' are two more strong offerings on show here. All in all, this is a good album. With Collage, you know what you are going to get. Nothing too adventurous or different, but good, solid, highly melodic prog, with no obvious weaknesses. If you like Moonshine, and Satellite's two albums, you won't be disappointed in this one. That is a 'Safe' bet!