OUT OF MYSELF

What's this? Polish prog? I'd been reading up on these guys recently, so while on vacation in Ottawa, I picked this one up to see what the fuss is all about. I can safely say, I need to check out new bands, because these guys are nothing short of amazing.

The Same River starts off with the radio, which I liked. Building a soundscape takes stuff from everyday life, they really put this to good use. The bass line comes in and it gets really heavy. I'm just sitting there in the store, frozen to my seat, waiting for what's gonna happen next. Whats this I hear? Guitar and drums? Oh how amazing! It's like I've never heard those instruments before. The synths come in, the fills get more syncopated. Then it becomes this unison between keys, bass and guitar. Amazing! Then the heavy guitars come in, I'm expecting this to keep building until it reaches the boiling point. Boy does it ever! Man, the sudden time change caught me off guard the first time I heard it. It was so well played, I enjoyed this section, which was filled with some moog and nice guitar/keyboard unisons. Then the song breaks for this slower bass driven section, with some sweeping reversed vocals. Very ambient. Then this section keeps up with the lines And you know I will always.... This is becoming a very long sample in the store. Some tasteful guitar solos lead the song into it's vocally powerful ending. It reminds me a little of 2112 for some reason. Perhaps it's the bass player/singer that makes it so similar. Ends very powerfully and AMAZING. Best song on the album. (10/10)

Out Of Myself, starts with the reverse cymbal blasting into your ear. Then with the amazing bass playing and the cool Voices In My Head effect. This song is very promising. The lyrics are amazing, no doubt there. This song gets pretty intense with some very freaky time signature at the chorus. The Let me get straight, let me get this right really shows the amazing power vocal of Mariusz Duda's vocals. Amazing song! (9.5/10)

I Believe starts off with some lines being spoken. A cigarette is lit. Ambient noises are made. I love the atmospheres these guys create, they're so amazing. The accent for the spoken line really just cracks me up. When the guitar and bass line come in, it's so beautiful. It's just amazing. The vocal harmonies in this song are really well done. Overall great ballad. (9/10)

Reality Dream, the official moniker of the trilogy of records released by these guys. Let's see is the name lives up to itself. OH WOW! Some beautiful keyboards! Ambient sounds and very nice organised playing is the winner here. I'm not one for instrumentals, but this is nothing short of awesome. (9.5/10)

Loose Heart, sort of filler for me. I have to admit I liked the I think we ought to find ourselves again line a lot. It's a good song, it just doesn't stand up to the grandeur of the other tracks on the album. (8/10)

Reality Dream II starts out with the drum fills. Then with the dialing phone, which for some reason, I didn't find all too cool. I guess I find it cliche. Meh, i'm weird. Anyways, more instrumental. This one is definitely the guitar driven one, Reality Dream I being keyboard driven. I LOVE the Rush style music at the two minute mark. I really found this to be great and be one of my favorite moments in this album. Overall, good, but its predecessor prevails in my book. (9/10)

In Two Minds, reminds me A LOT of Porcupine Tree. This song has the really prominent organs, which was a nice touch. But the winner in this song is the beautiful singing. I absolutely LOVE this song. It doesn't go anywhere really, but where it does go goes a long way. The ending really surprised me. Its the same singing but with a heavy bass line in the background. It's just beautiful. I love Riverside. (10/10)

The Curtain Falls reminds me of this video game RPG. Chrono Trigger. The beginnings sounds familliar. In again with amazing atmospheres, it never stops. The bass line couldn't be any better. The drumming is actually very good on this track. It didn't seem to shine on the other tracks for some reason. The guitar playing is really awesome isn't it? I noticed on the other songs, but on this one it stuck out. Then, when The Curtain Falls, only one song came to my head. Cinema Show. It reminds a little of the ending half; why it does is beyond me. Right after the 5:30 mark, it gets really intense; Amazingly well written. Then after that section, another guitar solo. This one being the best off the album, with Piotr fooling around with echo and volume pedals. The synths in the background create this truly amazing atmopshere. It's truly a masterpiece, I really enjoyed this song. (10/10)

OK, is this mellowed out, really pretty ender. In most contexts, an ender like this would get flamed to no end. But it fits perfectly in this frame. This is a pretty simple piece, but it means so much, I can tell. What's going in the story is beyond me, but all I know is this means something. The trumpet adds to the atmosphere. The song ends with one minute left hanging there. Listen long enough and you'll get to hear some reverse vocals. They really, again, add to the atmosphere. (9.5/10)

This beautiful piece of progressive music, is seriously, easily one of the best prog releases in recent memory. I must admit, the drumming is a bit noobish, but it's easily forgivable because of the amazing songwriting and great singing. This band is one to look out for.

5 Stars

High Points: The Record