SUFFOCATING THE BLOOM

The music played is quite complex and belongs more to the eclectic genre, IMHHO. The GG filiation is very obvious and it is combined with some powerful and rhythmic parts like during the excellent "Winterthru".

What pleases me in their music is that they still have a personality of their own: their influences are obvious, but they are much more than a copycat. A genuine modern progressive act. Not very accessible (therefore the link with eclectic genre I have pointed out) but still very pleasant for those who like a more symphonic approach (like myself).

The best example to depict this is obviously "Memoirs from Between" which holds a lot from some band you might have heard of while they were four?at least during the first half which is quite and leads to a fantastic and bombastic finale. One of my fave here for sure.

Even if "In every Garden" sounds simple, it features vibrant vocals which are quite moving. The whole band shows a powerful edge and demonstrates a perfect maestria. Another very pleasant track to say the least.

"Echolyn" also displays some jazzy angles in this "Suffocating The Bloom". You might know by now that it isn't my cup of tea ("A Little Nonsense"). GG type of vocals can be heard as well.

Some enjoyable string arrangements are also peppering this work. They are spread all over the album but are more in evidence during some songs like during the poignant "One Voice". The short instrumental "Cactapus" closes the first part of this album on a rather positive and joyful mode.

The "pièce de résistance" of this album is of course the epic "Suite For The Everyman". Almost half an hour of complex music which combines pleasant vocal harmonies, off-beat rhythm ("Bearing Down") but alas too short instrumental passages.

The whole flows nicely from one short part to the other but to be honest, it falls shy of the greatest epic we all praised (needless to tell you which one, I guess). There are too many very short sections in here; this affects some developments which would have been welcome. This remark justifies the four star rating for this very good album and not the maximum rating. In all, this is a very personal album that combines some jazzy, eclectic and symphonic (but less) elements. A very well balanced album (even if a bit too long) that should please any proghead who loves a more intricate music than average. As such, it needs a couple of listening to be fully appreciated.

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