TALES FROM THE ARTICHOKE WOOD

This talented Polish band's debut "W Galerii Czasu" was adroitly described by many in Progland as a true beacon of masterful music, earning kudos from nearly every proghead for its consummate quality and singing in their native tongue instead of English hasn't turned off anyone. "Psychopuls", while a decent follow up, just didn't match the same level of majesty, though in honesty, it really deserves a return engagement on my part. I purchased "Artichoke Wood" during my recent trip to Budapest, purely on sinkadotentree's recommendation and rather glowing review (even though he has recently dived courageously into a RIO tangent that is ultra cool, he has a professorial prog nose which is rarely off base). This album is book ended by the title compositions with the main core dedicated to classic painters Van Gogh, Dali and Picasso. The overall tone is less gloomy than the previous recording with beautiful artwork that smartly returns to the artistic themes of the debut album. Damian Bydlinski reveals himself on guitar and guitar synthesizer with some truly defiant playing, impressive multi-layered guitar sequences, laced with frilly synthesizers and some smooth violin passages that shimmer in glowing splendor, the themes are held together by some solid bass and drum configurations that elicit admiration. The musical impressions of the artists are whimsically realistic: the Van Gogh segments are particularly colorful and melancholic; the Dali sections are atonal, veering into bombastic on a dime, slightly mad and very Crimsonesque; while the Picasso frames are a juxtaposition of angular contrasts, serenity and violence fighting for attention (check out the Pablo 2 section: the spirit of the Crimson King is sitting on the stereo throne). Really inventive stuff going on here, seemingly inspired by the spirit of these bygone master artists and definitely deserving of the highest praise, it behooves Lizard to continue their museum-based muses. Perhaps Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum or Madrid's Prado might do the trick. 5 pastels