AFTER THE STORM

Wow! This debut album from the band from Canada's French province Quebec really BLEW me away at first spin of the album. You might challenge me on how come I rate this band highly but I have solid reason to defend my standpoint: the nuance that the band creates through the music has truly embraced my hearts not just my ears. How come? It's for a very basic and simple reason: it reminds me to a legendary band Pink Floyd. But, please do not compare it with Porcupine Tree because Kaos Moon took different approach in their music making. While Porcupine Tree has focused significantly on soundscapes, Kaos Moon takes Floydian guitar approach and rhythm section in the vein of Pink Floyd - even though it's not exactly the same. Pink Floyd's music rarely used riff in their music but Kaos Moon uses it quite a bit in the music. Kaos Moon does not take the soundscape side of Pink Floyd - that's why I welcome your differing opinion about this.

The band is quite strange to me as they had been around since 1984 and did only make album in 1994, a solid ten years of no album! It seems like they love number 10 because the second album "The Circle of Madness" ten years later (2004). The band was initially formed by Bernard Oulette.

"Memory Station" (5:00) opens the album beautifully and it blows me away at first spin. The tempo is actually upbeat but the guitar playing is really in the vein of David Gilmour and the music reminds me to Pink Floyd "Dark Side of The Moon" album. It has good harmony, stunning guitar work and melodic singing. The second track "Nobody's perfect" (7:20)brings the same nuance as the opening track. Again, the guitar playing is really stunning even though the music is not as ambient as Pink Floyd. The third track " Sayana" (4:05) starts with different style but when the guitar enters after the first lyrical verse, it reminds me to Pink Floyd's "Time". Oh .. I really love this kind of music and I miss Pink Floyd makes something like this again - if they make a new album.

"Cross Match" (6:21) is an instrumental that starts in ambient mood using Taurus pedal and keyboard followed beautifully by guitar effects. Drumming provides its wonderful entrance augmented by guitar effects while the Taurus pedal still provides its background sounds. The music than moves in upbeat mode - moving away the pink Floyd influence and make their own way. It's an excellent instrumental! Drum work and guitar solo are truly stunning. As the title implies "Symphonia" (5:23) stratrs off in symphonic nuance through the work of keyboard but then followed with music in moderate tempo in the vein of neo progressive music. The intertwining guitar and keyboard work that form nice rhythm section is cool. I remember CAST which shares similar style like this song.

"If Someday" (7:34) starts wonderfully with catchy piano work and keyboard followed by floating vocal work. The music moves in crescendo with symphonic style. It reminds me to the kind of Genesis' "Many Too Many" with more dynamic melody, accentuated beautifully by jazzy piano work. When the music enters with drum at approx 1:30 it sounds great especially the tight bass guitar work. I believe most of you would love this track especially when the guitar enters, it's a stunning guitar solo. The bass guitar is given the chance to deliver solo augmented by keyboard and guitar fills. "Vision" (5:13) starts mellow and then moves in crescendo with accentuated vocal work augmented by guitar riff and dynamic drumming. Keyboard and bass provide excellent work here. The ending part which features guitar solo combined with keyboard is nice. "After the Storm" (5:31) concludes the album with an instrumental work opened with long sustain keyboard work and effects in ambient mood. The music starts to blast at approx 1:02 with drumming and nice piano work in repetitive notes followed with simple guitar riffs while piano still deliver its repetitive notes. At approx 2:20 bass guitar plays dominant role to create the beat followed with guitar solo and long sustain keyboard. It's truly an excellent instrumental. It reminds me to Pink Floyd "One of These Days".

Overall, I am really satisfied with this album because there is no such mediocre track at all in the album. In fact, there are many wonderful segments throughout its entire album. You might disagree with me on the Floydian style but at least you would see the guitar playing is really Floydian. I am very keen to have the later album and I believe it must be a great album. Highly Recommended.Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW (i-Rock! Music Community)

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