AFFINITY

I was impressed by 'The Mountain', having discovered it long after it was released, so I had high expectations for 'Affinity'. These have largely been met. I agree with others who regard 'The Architect' as the best track. It is my favourite track of 2016 - I love its adventure, its range of mood and tempo, and I thought the importation of growly vocals was a masterstroke. '1985' and 'Lapse' are also outstandingly good, in my view. The other tracks range from good to rather ordinary, making it a bit of a mixed bag. But, given that Haken have an adventurous approach, this is hardly surprising. One of the best of 2016.