Riverside - Out Of Myself

 —  I have written three or four reviews about outstanding albums by outstanding bands from Poland. Yes Poland and I could write a bunch more and I will when I get around to it but for now I will settle for this great album, Out of Myself by Riverside.

I always enjoy seeing something really great, from overseas, make a splash here in the states. So much really good import music goes virtually unnoticed here and it's really a shame. It's not that American musicians aren't capable of producing music of the quality of Riverside's Out of Myself it just seems like they can't be bothered because American buyers will line up, no matter what they peddle.

Out of Myself is being touted by many Progressive Rock aficionados as the best prog/rock album of the 2004. I don't know about that but it is a very good album. Their music is atmospheric blend of aggressive prog metal and a smoother prog rock style and it is overwhelming. Their opening track, “The Same River” is a classic and may indeed be the Prog/rock track of the year. Twelve minutes of a haunting, predominantly instrumental masterpiece. It starts with special effects, a radio tuner spinning along the dial, static and all, leading into some Floydian guitar work. After a couple minutes we settle into a contagious, continuous guitar rhythm which permeates the song throughout, while ethereal vocals and soaring guitar solos run their course. There are some lyrics but they are near the end of this monster song: “I am your fear, hope - I am your grief, joy - I am your deed, word - I am your hate, love - I know... I can... Wanna stay…”

Next, the title track, “Out of Myself” is shorter but an equally potent track. Again the guitar is the main instrument, sometime soft and often heavy and crunchy. This is a busy song with lots happening and the singer, Duda is excellent singing lyrics like: “I don't feel quite myself. I think I'm losing heart. I'm sick and tired of all those words. Voices in my head”

The title track is followed by a very good easy going song, “I Believe” featuring an acoustic guitar and double track singing. This song reminds me of one of Mikael Akerfeldt's milder endeavors. Then comes another five star number in the six minute “Reality Dream,” another hard driving number, sort of like an instrumental version of the title track. Track Five, “Loose Heart” is like an atmospheric power ballad but it gets real heavy including screaming vocals right at the end: “Raise me up. Don't let me fall. Cause I don't get myself. I feel like I felt before. But can't find my way ”

“Reality Dream II” is a heavy guitar laden instrumental reprise of “Reality Dream” I, albeit shorter. “In Two Minds” Duda has an ambient melancholy sound with an accompanying, first acoustic then electric guitar. A synth plays a good part in the slow easy going number as well: “But if you lose your faith. Know that I am still your friend. And if the sky falls down. Know that I will still support you.”

Track Eight, “The Curtain Falls” starts slowly with a sort of steel guitar flavor leading into Dud‘s soft vocals. At first it sounds like something Chris Rea would sing but it does pick up nicely at the three-thirty mark, with some excellent progressive movements: “I know what I'm really like...I'm bleeding... I don't mind... That was very foolish of me. I can do nothing now ”

Ok, “OK”, is my least favorite song but on this album that ain’t bad. It is very slow and moody. It is a simple but effective song of heartbreak: “There's sadness in my mind - ok. There's darkness in my mind - ok. Thoughts echoing in my mind - ok. Everything is gonna be…” Song/Track list 1] The Same River (12:01) ***** 2] Out Of Myself (3:43) ***** 3] I Believe (4:14) ****1/2 4] Reality Dream I (6:15) ***** 5] Loose Heart (4:50) ****1/2 6] Reality Dream II (4:45) ***** 7] In Two Minds (4:38) **** 8] The Curtain Falls (7:59) **** 9] OK (4:46) ***1/2

Line-up - Piotr Grudzinski / guitar - Markus Duda / vocals, bass & guitar - Piotr Kozieradzki / drums & percussion - Jacek Melnicki / keyboards

Conclusion

Out of Myself is an album for those of you who appreciate good guitar playing. When I listen to this album I hear influences from all the masters but Riverside bows to no band. Their work is both original and wonderful. Yes I hear Floyd and Pain of Salvation and Porcupine Tree and Anathema and even Opeth but what I hear most is Riverside.

The music tends to be dark and dreamy. It’s progressive but there are songs that could be right at home on the radio. Singer Markus Duda is an superlative singer and guitar player. His voice is a little like Opeth‘s Mikael Akerfeldt. There is no question that the first two songs are the highlights but the remaining songs all stand on their own merits. For a debut album this is amazing. If you like great progressive rock/metal music dig out seventeen bucks and splurge. You won’t be disappointed. Final Rating 4.5 Stars, rounded up.

 —  I always enjoy seeing something really great, from overseas, make a splash here in the states. So much really good import music goes virtually unnoticed here and it's really a shame. It's not that American musicians aren't capable of producing music of the quality of Riverside's Out of Myself it just seems like they can't be bothered because American buyers will line up, no matter what they peddle.

Out of Myself is being touted by many Progressive Rock aficionados as the best prog/rock album of the 2004. I don't know about that but it is a very good album. Their music is atmospheric blend of aggressive prog metal and a smoother prog rock style and it is overwhelming. Their opening track, “The Same River” is a classic and may indeed be the Prog/rock track of the year. Twelve minutes of a haunting, predominantly instrumental masterpiece. It starts with special effects, a radio tuner spinning along the dial, static and all, leading into some Floydian guitar work. After a couple minutes we settle into a contagious, continuous guitar rhythm which permeates the song throughout, while ethereal vocals and soaring guitar solos run their course. There are some lyrics but they are near the end of this monster song: “I am your fear, hope - I am your grief, joy - I am your deed, word - I am your hate, love - I know... I can... Wanna stay…”

Next, the title track, “Out of Myself” is shorter but an equally potent track. Again the guitar is the main instrument, sometime soft and often heavy and crunchy. This is a busy song with lots happening and the singer, Duda is excellent singing lyrics like: “I don't feel quite myself. I think I'm losing heart. I'm sick and tired of all those words. Voices in my head”

The title track is followed by a very good easy going song, “I Believe” featuring an acoustic guitar and double track singing. This song reminds me of one of Mikael Akerfeldt's milder endeavors. Then comes another five star number in the six minute “Reality Dream,” another hard driving number, sort of like an instrumental version of the title track. Track Five, “Loose Heart” is like an atmospheric power ballad but it gets real heavy including screaming vocals right at the end: “Raise me up. Don't let me fall. Cause I don't get myself. I feel like I felt before. But can't find my way ”

“Reality Dream II” is a heavy guitar laden instrumental reprise of “Reality Dream” I, albeit shorter. “In Two Minds” Duda has an ambient melancholy sound with an accompanying, first acoustic then electric guitar. A synth plays a good part in the slow easy going number as well: “But if you lose your faith. Know that I am still your friend. And if the sky falls down. Know that I will still support you.”

Track Eight, “The Curtain Falls” starts slowly with a sort of steel guitar flavor leading into Dud‘s soft vocals. At first it sounds like something Chris Rea would sing but it does pick up nicely at the three-thirty mark, with some excellent progressive movements: “I know what I'm really like...I'm bleeding... I don't mind... That was very foolish of me. I can do nothing now ”

Ok, “OK”, is my least favorite song but on this album that ain’t bad. It is very slow and moody. It is a simple but effective song of heartbreak: “There's sadness in my mind - ok. There's darkness in my mind - ok. Thoughts echoing in my mind - ok. Everything is gonna be…”

Line-up - Piotr Grudzinski / guitar - Markus Duda / vocals, bass & guitar - Piotr Kozieradzki / drums & percussion - Jacek Melnicki / keyboards

Conclusion

Out of Myself is an album for those of you who appreciate good guitar playing. When I listen to this album I hear influences from all the masters but Riverside bows to no band. Their work is both original and wonderful. Yes I hear Floyd and Pain of Salvation and Porcupine Tree and Anathema and even Opeth but what I hear most is Riverside.

The music tends to be dark and dreamy. It’s progressive but there are songs that could be right at home on the radio. Singer Markus Duda is an superlative singer and guitar player. His voice is a little like Opeth‘s Mikael Akerfeldt. There is no question that the first two songs are the highlights but the remaining songs all stand on their own merits. For a debut album this is amazing. If you like great progressive rock/metal music dig out seventeen bucks and splurge. You won’t be disappointed. Final Rating 4.5 Stars, rounded up.