EVER AFTER

SANHEDRIN started out as a CAMEL cover band before composing their own music. And hey with Shem-Tov Levi being part of the band of course they are going to use this seasoned composer and multi-instrumentalist to their advantage. He was in a band called SHESHET that I really like and actually prefer to this band. This is an all instrumental affair and while I like the flute it's when he makes it dance that I'm rolling my eyes. They were a five piece with the guitarist adding mandolin and the keyboardist adding sax then there's flute, bass and drums. Two guests add bassoon and english horn.

So many tempo and mood changes on this album, I mean it seems like this happens continuously. I do have a top three including my favourite the opener called "Overture" that drew me in right away. Synths swirl right off the hop as outbursts of sound come and go until it's steady. Flute starts to play over top then the guitar. Bass to the fore then the organ floats in. "Sobriety" is an example of that dancing flute that opens the song. It doesn't last too long though as it bails before a minute and the keys take over then more flute before a change to a melancholic mood with a different style of flute thankfully. I really like this. An almost PINK FLOYD vibe before 4 minutes as it turns dreamy and spacey and again at 6 minutes. It kicks back in and checkout the guitar after 7 1/2 minutes. Nice.

The closer "Steam" rounds out my top three. An uptempo start with flute before the guitar replaces it quickly. This is uptempo and the guitar and flute continue to trade off. Organ only at 2 1/2 minutes then it builds but man this is spacey and FLOYD-like once again. I mean check it out after 4 1/2 minutes, so psychedelic. Bass and drums only before 6 minutes then it starts to build. This is good! It's powerful at 7 1/2 minutes. Guitar lights it up before 8 1/2 minutes.

A very solid Prog-Rock album right out of Israel.