RAPID EYE MOVEMENT

What you are listening to are musicians performing psychedelic music mainly under the influence of mind altering band called Porcupine Tree. Nevertheless, the band has got ITS OWN distinct sound and feeling and any comparisons to Porcupine Tree only serve to make clear that the band plays in the same league BUT NOT IN THE SAME WAY. Riverside DOES NOT poorly mimic Wilson's achievements, sound and whatever else. As I said before: it is their own distinct sound and distinct touch to the music that gave them popularity and widespread acclaim. Would anyone listen to a poor fake and rate it so high...?

All this said now to the point: "Reality Dream" mission completed and to be quite honest: successfully completed! Such an amazing and brilliant album should get a lengthy and very detailed description of its sound contents but how to describe in words the almost highest precision of the production of the music on REM, melodies, emotions, ...? Nevertheless a few statements must be made here: first of all I can hear at some moments a female voice on this album (one of the most vivid examples is "Parasomnia". Or are they only voices in my head??). Secondly, the production is far better than on OOM and SLS (not that I'm saying that OOM and SLS were poorly produced, NO!), the percussion is more "visible", the guitar (what a distinctive sound! really great job by Piotr Grudzinski!) riffs are powerful and powerfully performed and finally, Duda's voice is very good as usual.

Tracks (in short of course because they must be heard not described [which is obvious]):

1. Beyond the Eyelids - (fantastic Michal Lapaj on keybords and extraordinary weeping guitar riffs!!!) Beyond the words... : 10/10

2. Rainbow Box (Duda's great singing): 9/10

3. 02 Panic Room (a new taste to Riverside, hypnotising, enchanting, great tribal drumming by Mittloff, silence, piano and acoustic guitar): 10/10

4. Schizophrenic Prayer (schizophrenic sound effects produced by a schizophrenic human being!): 10/10

5. Parasomnia (heavy metal riffs, a very powerful song): 10/10

6. Through The Other Side (slower and mellow track): 9/10

7. Embryonic (mellow): 8/10

8. Cybernetic Pillow (energetic drumming, guitar riffs): 9/10

9. Ultimate Trip (massive, ultimate beauty): 10/10

All in all, REM combines the overpowering beauty of OOM, the crashing power of SLS and some new prog elements!!! No new lands of progressive music discovered here but a well-known excellent Riverside + some new, "exotic" prog sounds. Highly recommended, a must have for a Riverside and prog music fan! Really Exceptional Music, 4,5 stars!!

P.S. There is also a 2CD version of this album. The disc nr 2 has:

1. Behind The Eyelids (thumbs up!)

2. Lucid Dream IV (quite decent)

3. 02 Panic room (a very good remix)

4. Back To The River (back to the Pink Floyd for a moment... - great!)

5. Rapid Eye Movement (Really Exceptional Masterpiece [the band was to humble to call it that way...])

Total time of Disc 2 is 33:26