INTROSPECTIVE

The debut CD Retrospective (2004) by Canadian seven piece band Retroheads got many positive reactions so I was very curious this new effort. After a first listening session I quickly concluded that Retroheads has matured in writing and they sound more original, even a bit wayward. For me this new CD is one big musical adventure, a fascinating blend of several styles with an omnipresent 'vintage keyboard sound' like the powerful Hammond organ, different 'classical' synthesizers and especially the majestic Mellotron. The compositions contain many adventurous musical ideas and lots of interesting moments like great interplay between Hammond and strong vocals along synthesizer flights, slide guitar, Moog Taurus bass pedals and Mellotronin the alternating and intense Living In A Bubble, a slow rhythm with moving wah-wah drenched guitar, Hammond waves and fat synthesizers in Black Hole Eyes and acoustic guitar, sensitive piano and vocals, a mid-tempo piece and lush keyboards in I Turn To You. The other compositions are also very alternating (from spacey and dreamy to fluent and bombastic) and feature lots of good soli on keyboards and guitar and strong vocals. Their sound on this new CD is not always accessible because of the many styles and frequent shifting moods but if you like a special progrock adventure with great vintage keyboards, this one could be yours!