THE MOUNTAIN

I was very excited to listen and review this album: "The Mountain" by the heavy prog band Haken and first of all I most say I fully understand why this thing seems to be a very popular and high appreciated one. It is well produced and very intelectual heavy music with both the soft and the hard and a lot of historical referencies. The first impression was the wonderful cover which is special and very photographic. The design would have fitted the LP standard.

Haken seems to be a six man group with Ross Jennings as vocalist, Charles Griffiths as guitarist, Raymond Hearne as drummer, Richard Henshall as keyboard player and guitarist, Thomas MacLean as bassist and Diego Tejeida as keyboard player.

What I like with Haken's music is perhaps foremost the excellent vocals which is high and light and not screaming(well just sometimes). The group also uses vocal harmonies that are perfect. On "Cockroach King" the vocals take over where Gentle Giant quitet but otherwise the harmonies are just very Haken. I also enjoy the English accent very much. Swedish groups which unfortunately sing in English can't get that accent. The music is varied, and on some passages, symphonic which I like. The instrumentation often is pure and you can hear what they're doing. They have both calmer and heavier songs and of course differencies within the compositions. "The Path" is a beautiful opener where we really can enjoy Ross Jennings voice and accent and "Atlas Stone" is both compicated, powerful and very interesting. "Cockroach King" is already mentioned as a bringer of fantastic vocal organization but also shows a lot more of interest. "Pareidolia" and "Somebody" are perfect Haken songs which give us a special soundscape that is melancholic but very pleasant.

What I don't like with Haken's and what's probably the reason I can't vote for five stars is that the music sometimes still is too heavy. That is obvious for me in the middle section of the record. "In Memoriam" is boring metal and "Because It's There"and "Falling back to Earth" are good but the heavy sound frightens me. "As death Embraces" feels quite week in my ears.

How much I always want to give a record as many stars as possible I can't give it another five. It doesn't enough fit my taste of music even if I find it both clever and enjoyable. This is a intrigiung album I my final statement will be: well done!

The songs in order of goodness: Cockroach King(10/10), Somebody(8/10), Atlas stone(8/10), The Path(8/10), Pareidolia(8/10), Falling back to Earth(7/10), Because It's there(7/10), As death embraces(6/10) In Memoriam(6/10)