STRANGE IN STEREO

Is it really possible to review an album like this? I could go track by track, but it would be foolish to review this album that way because it is closer to one big song than a collection of songs. You lose so much by listening to each song of this very cohesive album individually. This is essentially the modern Dark Side of the Moon, and that's coming from one of the biggest Pink Floyd fans ever. This is music in it's purest, most artistic form, there's no songs that would make great singles, no choruses that you are expected to sing along to, and nothing that would lead the listener to believe there is any pretense behind any of the compositions. It is truly "Strange in Stereo", strange as in original. It's like nothing you've probably ever heard before, and that's what makes it so progressive. Not by standards set by earlier bands but by their own standard.

Each chapter in the short story still manages to create it's own mood, is it's own ambience. Some passages are more psychedelic, some more dramatic, some more reflective, and some even minimalistic. There's even some folk influenced passages. All of this is built upon a metal foundation. When I say metal though, there are no heavy, repeated riffs or shredding solos as most would expect from a metal band. Don't worry though, each instrument knows it's place and do a flawless job in adding to the overall ambience of the album. Apart from the obvious guitar, bass, and drums, there's some melancholic strings and piano, male vocals which tell most of the story, female vocals which are used primarily to add to the mood, and even some electronics to go on top of the already great atmospheres. Since this is not an album of details, but rather one which can only be looked at as a whole, there's not much else to say, except if you haven't heard it yet, you will NOT be disappointed. Put Strange in Stereo in your stereo, turn off the lights, and give this album your fullest attention.

If you want to try In the Woods..., you may want to start with Omnio first, but this one is a masterpiece of equal caliber. Truly a masterpiece and truly progressive.