COSMOLOGY

4.5 stars. My only experience with this Spanish band was their 2006 release called "Omphalos" which I rated 3.5 stars, but those operatic female vocals made me decide to not bother checking out future releases. Well this summer in particular there was so much positive feedback for "Cosmology" that I decided to check out some samples and I loved what I was hearing, and best of all no soprano female vocals. If I had bothered checking out the followup to "Omphalos" I would have seen that she was no longer with the band and no they didn't replace her with another opera singer thankfully.

So yes I'll be checking out the two albums I missed after really enjoying this one. "Cosmology" is such an amazing album and for me the surprising thing was how much flute is on here and I love the style of it bringing some Krautrock bands to mind. Lots of mellotron as well which was also surprising.

"Post I Gnem" has an incredible start with some power and flute before it settles down with flute just before a minute, lots of atmosphere as well which actually brought early PORCUPINE TREE to mind believe it or not. It's building with drums, piano and more then the guitar starts to solo before 2 minutes. A calm 3 minutes in as we get atmosphere, piano, flute and electronics before it turn powerful 5 minutes in. The guitar is back soloing over top then it's the piano's turn then flute. More guitar! So good and check them out before 7 minutes. A great start!

Next up is the "Cosmology Suite" which consists of five songs and well over 30 minutes of music. "Geocentrel Universe" has a really good intro with all that atmosphere before intricate guitar and piano take over. Drums follow as it builds. Flute to the fore 2 1/2 minutes in. This is impressive a minute later. It's just so cool to really listen to all these sounds. It calms down after 5 minutes but builds again quickly. Piano is prominent then flute before the guitar starts to lead the way.

"Mechanical Universe" opens with samples of mechanical sounds before the bass kicks in and it sounds awesome. Drums and piano join in but I'm really into the bass here. Spacey synths before a full sound arrives 1 1/2 minutes in with guitar. Mellotron before 3 minutes, love those choirs. There's a Spanish vibe(shocking I know) with the guitar that follows and there's percussion, bass and more. It's fuller again after 4 1/2 minutes before the intricate sounds return a minute later. Love those melancholic synths. Another killer tune.

"Entangled Universe" opens with solemn flute like SINKADUS before intricate guitar joins in then piano before it kicks into gear. Flute comes in over top and its fairly bouncy here before the soundscape turns powerful with guitar. The flute is back as it will trade off with the guitar. It turns surprisingly like PINK FLOYD briefly after 2 minutes. This is mellow as the flute returns with mellotron and a beat with bass. The guitar then returns as the tempo picks back up. Another calm 5 minutes in as the flute, a beat and mellotron lead the way before it kicks back in with guitar. How impressive is this after 8 minutes.

"Oneness" ends the suite and it begins with melancholic piano then a full sound arrives before 1 1/2 minutes with bass, drums and mellotron. It picks up a minute later as the flute arrives. A calm before 4 minutes but it starts to build again .Love those drums after 4 1/2 minutes but there's so much going on. Nice guitar before 6 minutes. It turns powerful before ending with a calm.

"Mishima's Dream" opens with the guitar soloing beautifully as the drums and organ come and go in outbursts. Soon its all one as the organ continues. A calm before 1 1/2 minutes with drums and guitar as the atmosphere helps out. It builds to a powerful sound including organ before winding down late. "A Bao A Qu" has a dark and mysterious sound to it to start with atmosphere and piano. Guitar expressions follow then bass and drums after 1 1/2 minutes. it's picking up speed. Piano will lead then guitar before a calm arrives before 4 minutes.

"Dante's Paradiso Canto XXVIII" opens with a haunting mood before piano and mellotron join in. Powerful guitar before 1 1/2 minutes followed by a calm with mellotron only then acoustic guitar. There's more depth to the sound after 3 1/2 minutes and it will become more powerful like earlier. Love the mellotron 5 minutes in. "Paradise Lost/ Paraiso Perdido" ends the album with mostly piano and atmosphere throughout.

Man this is such a great album I can't wait to check out the two albums I'm missing before it. This is one classy recording that pushes all the right buttons for me.