SUFFOCATING THE BLOOM

Echolyn are often compared to Gentle Giant, and much like Gentle Giant's best albums their work takes a little while to puzzle out. I wasn't too impressed at first by this album - and to be fair I still think some of the synthesiser sounds on the first few tracks are a little dated - but bit by bit the band's command of Gentle Giant-esque harmonies and complex songwriting won me over. Combining this influence with a gentler, acoustic side which was by and large absent in Gentle Giant's classic albums but which at points reminds me of the softer side of early Genesis, echolyn come up with a winning combination which does a great job of producing modern, forward-looking symphonic prog which isn't mired in nostalgia. I'll be wanting to hear more from these guys.