SOMNAMBULIST

Here's an interesting album on (fellow Tron-maniac) Ken Golden his label The Laser's Edge, the eponymous debut CD by USA progrock band Somnambulist. Their sound is very overwhelming: heavy rhythms, fiery guitar play and sumptuous keyboard work. The climates are often ominous featuring Fripperian guitar, lots of violin-Mellotron waves and (to me) a bit nerve-racking saxophone play. This music evokes King Crimson during the Larks Tongues In Aspic and Red era. I am impressed by the captivating interplay between the guitar and keyboards (Mellotron waves, sparkling piano, Kansas-like organ and some harpsichorp). But unfortunately, at some moments (mainly in the longer compositions) Somnambulist) seems to loose grip on their music and it tends to become too unstructured/unbalanced, too many shifting moods and too many soli. Also the vocals will cause mixed feelings I think: powerful but quite raw and a bit screamy. Nonetheless, this is a promising debut album, the fans of heavy prog will be pleased.