THE WAY

I had high hopes for this one. But I tend to agree with thedunno´s review. This is Cuba´s biggest (or, as far as I know, only) symphonic rock band and they show they have all the elements to be placed among today´s most promising artists in that field. However, I found their sound here lacking originality and a little edge. Coming from Cuba I was expecting a little more local colors and sounds to make a difference, but I hear nothing like that. Of course I wasn´t waiting for a Buena Vista Social Club with mellotrons, but still...

Their main heroes are easy to identify: Yes and King Crimson. My main gripe with The Way is the fact that they sound a bit too much like other comtemporary bands from Europe and USA that had the same influences, notably The Flower Kings and Neil Morse´s Spocks Beard. The four epics presented here are quite good technically, no question about it. The musicians involved are excellent and the singer is also very competent, with a voice that reminds of Marillion´s Steve Hoggarth (the high tones and the dramatic delivering). However, songs like Time To Understand and Flying to The Sun sounds too much like Spock´s Beard, while several parts of the long (26 minutes) Spring Knocks on the Door of Men seems to come directly from a Flower Kings CD. There was not a track on this album that didn´t uncomfortably recall one of those two groups. I was expecting more for their third release already.

In the end I can say I like this CD. After all, I´m a fan of the style and Anima Mundi is more than capable of doing a great job, even though they have yet to find their own personality if they want to leave a more permanent mark in prog´s history. Rating: 3 stars, good but non essential. Again, promising. Let´s see what the future might bring from these hermanos.