THE WORLD UNREAL

At this point in the evolution of The Gourishankar the project is almost a solo endeavor of multi-instrumentalist and chief songwriter Nomy Agranson. Drummer Svetoslav Bogdanov and lead vocalist Jason Offen are the members who complete Nomy's vision. Also, with The World Unreal The Gourishankar has moved even more towards its 80s- rooted Neo Prog heart?which is not a real plus for me.

1. "Intro-Fate" (2:03) a flowing collection of spacey techno sounds that provide an introduction to the album. (8/10)

2. "Order and Chaos" (5:30) puts on display the eclecticism of this band as it melds funk bass, techno keyboards sounds, both metal and techno-pop guitar, and Middle Eastern female vocal incidentals with a kind of Mariuz Duda- Mark King lead vocal. Pretty good song. If you twist my arm I would probably admit to this being my third favorite song on the album. (8/10) 3. "First Rush" (5:01) is such a 80s-style pop song (using more modern computer and sound technologies)! We could be listening to Johnny Hates Jazz or Thomas Dolby or Level 42. Only, this song would not get very far on the pop charts. (7/10)

4. "Let It Go" (4:11) opens with programmed drums and percussion and vocoder and auto tuned vocals with mushy keyboard banks chords. OWL CITY meets The Eurythmics' Dave Stewart. Pretty well done, though. (8/10)

5. "Place for Everything" (4:45) is really one of the only songs on the album that has a truly progressive rock feel to it ?though its music often falls into ruts of 80s techno pop sound cliches. (8/10)

6. "Heartland" (5:53) is a very radio friendly Crossover/Neo Prog song in a kind of Nice Beaver-Level 42-Simple Minds-The Cure vein. Unfortunately, it has no real bite or vim?especially coming from the vocalist. (7/10) 7. Truth Stays Silent" (12:00) is stronger for its many changes, its many sections, and for the presence of the violin. It is weakened by the pitchy vocals and dated computer keyboard sounds used (especially the choral banks) and the two or three sections that are kind of cheezy (especially toward the end). (8/10)

8. "World Unreal" (4:40) is a nearly flawless pop prog song with great clarity definition given to all instruments in which violin, lead vocal and percussion shine particularly. One of my top three for this album. (9/10)

9. "Time Follows" (5:48) is a delicate, subtly constructed song that works. It is one of the top three songs on the album. (9/10)

10. "Pleasure and Suffering, Pt. 1" (5:43) is a totally NeoProg song full of bombast and cliche. Nice but nothing new or exciting to write home about. (8/10)

11. "Pleasure and Suffering, Pt. 2" (5:22) is an instrumental which sounds very much as if it were constructed on a computer program. It has a rather nice New Age-y sound and feel to it?and a kind of Hibernal approach with a sci- fi metaphysics blurb read over the top of the song's fourth minute. Not bad. (8/10)

While Nomy Agranson is a very talented musician and competent songwriter, his music is often lacking cohesion, lacking spark, and lacking anything really new, fresh, or innovative. His drummer is equally competent and the singer has a very pleasant tone to his voice, he just lacks conviction and excitement. (He is much better with softer, almost whispery sections?like on "Time Follows".) More violin, Nomy!

3.5 stars.