TELIOF

The first shot "Intro", getting started with a phrase via the last part of "It Is", sounds quite full of vivacity. Such an uptempo, dramatic, heavy but dreamy stuff lets me know another charm of TERIOF. Pretty complex, diverse but favourable and acceptable soundscape should be their musical basis really. Oh anyway, wondering why this album amazingly be veiled in more bluesy atmosphere than the previous album. "I Dream", featuring hard-egded female voices and flute drawing of comfort, is another rockin' heaviness indeed, but mysteriously catchy and much of fun.

"Twisting" cannot be heard ten years ago at all, filled with slowtempo, bluesy, but theatrical, heartwarming melody lines. I'm surprised they could (can) shoot such a serious melodic counterpart. Through "Never Really Here" lots of powerful phrases and sticky melodic attack knock me down completely. My pleasure, flooded with deep bombastic sound texture (but not simply heavy rock obviously), love this track much. The last one "It Is" is kinda real revival of their lovely suite, completely brought back to me into existence ... as if I would enjoy as an audience in front of their stage.

In conclusion, this album cannot win their previous "precious" album "Is It?" but should be worth listening to and attending. Hey Yuval, why not you come to Japan? ;)

An Israeli combo TELIOF's debut album "Is It?" has been released in 2008 as one of amazing stuffs all over the progressive rock world. It's apparent they've got extremely influenced by 70s British progressive rock especially Genesis or Earth & Fire (as for the latter, through the second track "Die For Us" we can hear their chorus texture obviously like "Song Of The Marching Children"), but crazy amazingly they should not play tiny imitation nor simple mixture of the pioneers.

Their complicated melodic structure blended with pop and catchy nuance sounds quite serious but charming. Such a fascinating phenomenon can be directly heard in the first track "They Believe We Exist" ... where we can accept easily and enjoyably what they've launched cynically, violently and weirdly. The female voices based upon fine male chorus are clearly delightful. we should get immersed into their sound kaleidoscope created, crystallized with all instruments (especially the electric piano) as a sound chaser, and get drenched in their energetic sound magma.

The third (and the longest) track "It Is" suite is kinda theatrical architecture. Easily able to imagine they have played fully with hope and relax in a studio. It's surprising every single member and instrument explodes forward his/her/its attitude and intention. No part cannot be beaten by other ones, and all are harmonized and synchronized perfectly. And another interest is that there is little minor key nor negative atmosphere all over the suite. Of our comfort are tremendously fine, fantastic melodic / sound footsteps from the beginning until the end. Yes 24 minutes will go away from our ear soon. Even the last two short tracks are sorta killers seasoned with incredible instrumental spices like violin madness or saxophone drone.

We can send them ungrudging admiration, the loudest applause via such a stimulating sound elegance definitely.

If not truly unique then at least wonderfully adventurous music is what's presented here; where even brief compositions lasting less than 2 minutes can incorporate segments with a great variety of different styles.

Actually, few of the compositions presented stay within one type of music; they are all swirling, wandering creations floating from on style to another or; in most cases; blending elements from a variety of different styles into a whole. The styles most often visited in these compositions are folk music, classical symphonic music, jazz, fusion, symphonic progressive rock and a few different types of art rock. More genres can probably be added by the truckload though, depending on what types of music you're familiar with and how narrow you define your music.

Anyhow, we're served highly melodic songs, with harmonizing as well as dissonant elements; quite a few times served at the same time. The compositions are constantly changing and evolving, yet always manage to create a strong feeling of being one creation rather than a patchwork of different segments thrown together; this a direct result of highly skilled and well planned use of instruments and melodic fragments taking the song forward yet maintaining elements from one or more previous parts.

Highly recommended to followers of progressive rock as well as those who enjoy truly adventurous music.