SKRYVANIA

To me, this album by Skryvania sounds like teens who are good musicians, and perhaps part of a Yes tribute band, jamming. There is a lot of stuff going on here in terms of the amount of notes being played and the activity on the keyboards and fretboards, but really, most of this sounds like they are making it up as they go, keeping a loose refrain or two in mind. Additionally, there's very little content in the vocal department, on those few occasions when there are (weak) vocals. Sometimes, the wandering guitar lines and keyboard melodies clash in a way that doesn't seem intentional (and certainly isn't pleasant), and rarely does the entity known as a "song" emerge from the hummingbird machinations.

There was an exceptional tune on here, though it's not part of the album proper: The final bonus track, Le château d'Orphée, has focus, emotional content and builds to genuine climax. The actual album, however, just seems like guys playing a lot of notes in all directions, and since I'm not that into jazz or jam bands, this doesn't grab me or seem truly symphonic in the classic sense of that word.

Overall, Skryvania is desultory music very much in the style of Yes, yet lacking the compositional wisdom of Yes.