12:5

By preference, actually I was not really into the kind of acoustic or unplugged things. But, this album changed everything for me even at first spin. Having been familiar with Pain of Salvation after enjoying Perfect Elements Part 1, this album forced me to try enjoying the acoustic music. It blew me and I kept playing it over and over at my CD player as well as in my car. There are two things that has made me falling in love with this album even until now after couple of months owning it. First, the creativeness of the band that has composed this acoustic music wonderfully. Second, the virtuosity of the musicians in performing all tracks flawlessly. Well, I really admire the musicianship of PoS, especially on acoustic guitar, piano / keyboards and powerful vocal. Top notch! I know myself that I have never endured listening to acoustic music. But with this album I even repeated.

The album comprises three books: Genesis, Genesister and Genesinister. Genesis has the first five parts of the Brickwork concept, which contains Leaving Entropia, This Heart Of Mine and Song For The Innocent - all areperformed in meddley fashion. The concept of Brickwork and the accompanying songs is intriguing in itself as well. But, the music is truly a masterpiece! Daniel Gildenlöw's singing style is really powerful especially with his "haaaa aaaaa aaa" accentuation. It's a great mixture of soulful, mellow, rough and accentuated styles. The music created from a combination of acoustic bass, some acoustic guitars, piano, drums and harpsichord is really nice and I never experience an acoustic music as dynamic and energetic like this one.

Unlike the first book Genesis, Genesister is not a medley. It comprises six separate songs that are somehow related to the concept. Dryad Of The Woods is a terrific atmospheric instrumental. Undertow is an excellent track that I have been familiar with. It's performed excellently with touchy piano work and stunning acoustic guitar that accompany melodic voice line. While Chainsling is another favorite of mine, it starts glowingly with great acoustic guitar and accentuated vocals. Oh my God . this track is truly wonderful as it moves to higher notes wit Gildenlow's vocal. I can see that the vocal is like another instrument - it characterizes the music.

Enjoying this album is like reading great novel as the music brings us into many forms or variations of harmony and melody and after all it conjures up into the peak of the peak. Why? Because, I think, the last book Genesinister is wonderful and it serves perfectly as the album's climax. WOW! The acoustic guitar work at the book's opening part VI - Ascend 1 (1:39) is truly wonderful. It moves seamlessly to VII - Ascend 2 (1:19) in a very smooth way. It ends up with great piano that remarks the start of VIII - Second Love T5 (4:12) with powerful vocal lines. The melody is really killing me! The harpsichords sounds combined with acoustic bass that opens IX - Ashes T5 (5:12) is another touchy segment. The concluding part X - Descend 2 (3:52) is opened with combination of two acoustic guitar work and piano, performed energetically. WOW! What an experience!

Even though this album leaves me with some big questions about my confusion of track titles, it's a masterpiece acoustic live set. When I say that I have some confusion is actually on the complexity of the song titles given to us. First of all, I don't really know what 12:5 really means? What is the concept behind Brickwork and why it must be inserted with loose tracks like in Book 2? What's the meaning of T5? It's all unclear to me. Actually, I have the same question also with confusing title name in Be album as well. But it's OK .. the music is really great! Highly recommended! Keep on proggin' .!

Progressively yours,

GW - Review #316

Walk with me / and change the world we see . - PAIN of SALVATION "Brickwork"

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