MILLIONTOWN

It appears as if I had lately developed an affinity for everything that has the John Mitchell label on it. First KINO and now FROST (no need to mention that I have both Wetton/Downes ICON albums where JM is also present). It is true that I got interested in "Milliontown" because Mitchell was included, but that's about as far as the parallels with KINO's "Picture" goes. "Milliontown" is the far more progressive and diverse of the two albums.

The album starts off with "Hyperventilate", an instrumental that demonstrates where this whole thing is going to lead to: a theme played by the piano that is quickly taken over by a heavy guitar. And when you start to wonder wether this is actually a metal album and listed in the wrong category it turns into a beautiful melody that you just can't get out of your head.

The three shorter songs in the middle are probably the weakest. That dowsn't mean that they are bad, mind you. "No me no you" is in the same vein as the opener, just with words this time. A guitar heavy verse followed by a chorus that is again made to stick in your ears. "Snowman" is a ballad about the shortness of life and the thins we regret we haven't done in time, "The other me" is a really guitar heavy song, but not bad, not bad at all. Listen for the flies buzzing at the end of it, Weird.

But now is the time when the album really kicks off. "Black light machine" and the title track "Milliontown" finally feature the heavy keyboard solos that, at least to me, are the trademark of a great progressive rock song. "Milliontown" is the more diverse of the two long tracks with some mood and tempo changes.

Oh, there is yet another thing FROST has in common with KINO. In both cases it is uncertain that the - good - debut album will see a follow up. But in the case of FROST it is more likely as I've learned that Jem is already looking for musicians. So let's hope that there will be a second FROST album. I'll be one of the first to pre-order.

In conclusion I'd say that this is a very good album, definitely worth a listen, especially when you are into neo-progrssive. Just short of a five star rating. This album was a very pleasant surprise to me, probably one of the best releases of 2006.

And now let's move on to the next John Mitchell review - see ya there.