FETISH

A highly ambitious album by a band of great instrumentalists that unfortunately as a whole fails: too many styles, too many changes in time signatures and keys and way too long, in my opinion. There are a number of great parts and passages on this album and a few tracks are ok but overall this album feels very disjointed and lacks something I can not really put my finger on. Which is a pity since this band is capable of delivering much more. Their previous album (The ? Book) worked for me in terms of a well-integrated concept where nothing felt out of place and which had a convincing deep emotional atmosphere. This clearly lacks here.

I gave this album many spins, hoping it would grow on me as it has so many good reviews,came with a high recommendation from a friend and I just love their previous album. The urge to fast forward or skip tracks was ever present while listening to it. Like another reviewer says: "an album one does not look forward to listen to". To make things worse, I find the cover very off putting and the "secret packaging" did not add to improve things.