OCTOPIE

This is yet another band I came across when I was asked to evaluate them for ProgArchives, and I was quite blown away by this four-track EP. Hailing from Finland, this is their second toe in the water of releasing material, and I can only hope that they will soon be picked up by a label and given the time and resources to record a full-length album as these guys have real promise. They have definitely been listening to 'War Child' era Jethro Tull (and that can never be a bad thing in my book), and although their use of flute is much more clear than the breathy tone often deployed by Mr Anderson, that is not the only thing that reminds me of that period of time with chunky keyboards (including mellotron of course, and Hammond) and a singer in Tom Tamlander who was obviously born in the wrong decade. Here is not a singer who is going to sit quietly in the background, but instead not only sings but really lives what he is doing, putting loads of emotion into everything. Consequently the band have to be on top form to be able to stay the course and they are definitely up for the task.

The music is quite laid-back at times, and has been recorded in a way so that every instrument has plenty of space and the ability to shine but not so distant from each other so that they also have the ability to blend and complement what each is playing. There are long instrumental passages where they all have the chance to take the lead role, and show that many other the classic prog bands have also had an impact on their sound (early Genesis, Gentle Giant, Yes to name a few). Definitely one to keep an eye on, this EP can be streamed from Bandcamp so it is possible to try before you purchase and at only 5 Euros it is a bargain. Www.octopieband.bandcamp.com