MELLODRAMATIC

I guess the title of the album is a sort of play on words, because the wonderful Mellotron is played throughout the album. Taken for what it is, a rich display of prog influences, the band nevertheless are modern sounding and delightfully indie. They kinda remind me of another indie/prog band, The Space Needle. Right from the start, you get an earful of Mellotron with Andy McWilliams drums way up front. In fact it's up front for most of the album. Very cool! They're very Crimso but never copycatish. They do have their own take on the early 70's sound. It's not until the achingly beautiful guitar melody on the instrumental track "The City In The Sea" do I hear a near classic. The guitar lick just sticks in your brain for days. It's a winner! But wait! The next track "Dry" starts like a lost Pink Floyd era '69 ditty. Guidry's guitar is straight from the Gilmour school. And his vocals are Gilmourish, too. Yet, half way in comes one of the best Mellotron passages of the modern era. I mean it's breathtaking. Mignano places his Mellotron melodies in just the right spots and at just the right key. "Dry" is one of my favorite prog songs from the 00's. I must admit though, the band at this point is all over the map with no personality. But who cares. They have a different take on classic prog taking all their influences and twisting them into an indie type of groove, (check out the 8th track, very hip hoppish beat). Come on guys, get back together. The prog world needs more guys who like to take the 70's stale, moldy and done-to-death sound and mix it up with a modern slant. I'll be first in line!