PSYCHOPULS

Lizard is one of my most pleasant late prog surprises - it's been only a few weeks that I've purchased my "Psychopuls" copy, and this first experience with Lizard's music has been genuinely amazing. In no small degree has the stamina of this band what has appealed to me in a special way, but here we've got more valuable items: catchy musical ideas adorned with clever arrangements, tight interplaying, robust combination of modern psychedelic sounds and traditional prog (mostly, Wetton-era and contemporary King Crimson). The final result turns out to be as solid as, or even more solid than that of their illustrious compatriots of Riverside. I would even go further enough as to say that Lizard surpasses Porcupine Tree (one of their major references) as purveyors of modernity into the world art-rock. Although violinist-keyboardist Krzysztof Maciejowski is still not a band member, his guest interventions provide some of the group's magic on his own - he is so well integrated. A special mention has to go to drummer Mariusz Szulakowski, whose precision and inventiveness turn out to be crucial elements of the band's stamina. After a cybernetic intro ('# 001 Part 1'), comes '# 001 Part 2', a splendid exercise in modernized Crimsonian vibe: the main motifs and riffs are repeated without getting boring, on the contrary, creating an increasing exaltation among the powerful turmoil. The synth and violin solos bring interesting colors to the fold. '# 002 Part 1' states another weird brief prelude before '# 002 Part 2' brings the "real thing". Being a bit less frenzy than track 2, it still shows off the band's energy quite well. Starting with a mixture of funky and hard rock (a-la "In Absentia"-era PT), things get a bit more neurotic within well-constrained boundaries. That is until the final adornments come along: a Belew-styled ballad interlude, a heavy metal riff, techno ornaments, brief Frippian soundscapes, and finally, a soft coda of the song's main motif. The guys have taken good advantage of this track's length, indeed. It sure would be a breathtaking task to keep up with the momentum accomplished so far. but they do! The series of three 'Psychopuls # 003' tracks consists successively of: a distant, creepy prelude; an acoustic ballad filled with controlled melancholy; a counterpoint-based instrumental that partially brings back the neurosis of tracks 2 & 4. '# 002, 0A7' is really weird: as ridiculous as it may sound to some, I only feel capable of describing it as a bizarre hybrid of RIO and chill-out. This is real 21st century prog!! The 11 ½ minute long instrumental 'Psychopuls # 004' closes down the album in full splendor. The well-ordained excursions portray an unmistakable modern Crimsonian flair, providing hard rocking motifs filtered through oppressive electronic textures. The track's coda sounds like a simultaneous homage to 'Red' and 'Fracture'. The Crimsonian influence is clear but Lizard is not a derivative-freak band - they have really something new to say in the world of prog and art-rock while exhibiting their musical roots. I hope that everyone who is yet to discover this band feels as pleased as I did myself when they do: "Psychopuls" is an excellent prog item for the new millennium.