ZYPRESSEN

A tame but beautiful piece of chamber rock. Rather than the usual avant-prog strategies of crazed ideas, Byzantine complexity, barrier crushing in regards to genre, or sheer randomness, Zypressen just played some outstanding chamber music informed by RIO and rock. So not groundbreaking, but still fantastic, and unique in its comparative simplicity and ease of performance. The first three tracks flow wonderfully together as they explore the calm niche the band set for themselves. A lot of strings, drums, and percussion create an enjoyable and slightly avant garde sound. The band remains a bit unpredictable even here, first with unexpected turns, and then eventually on the third track, "Tangent", the band also pulls a bit of electronic out to surprise and add to the mix. "Etdue" adds the rock in earnest, and the sound all comes together. "HANA" also stands as an excellent track, with chimes that sound pretty and may become as stuck in your mind as they are in mine, since a childhood when it was used as a sound effect, no less. While not as in the clouds as the other great avant-prog opuses, it works more than enough and holds considerable beauty and interest.