GENERAL WINTER'S SECRET MUSEUM

Well, if I have one hard and fast rule about music that I make no exceptions for its this: Unappealing Vocals Will Not Be Tolerated. Be assured that 'The Tea Club' are as far from breaking this rule as musically possible, placing them right up there with 'Simon and Garfunkel', 'King's X', 'Pink Floyd' (think Echoes), 'Genesis' etc. That's an amazing feat on it's own, but its only one aspect of this fresh and extremely talented line-up.

Werewolves opens the album with a stern, pounding rhythm and continues it for about 2 minutes before hitting a nice break, which to me sounds like its all being tapped/hammered, but its not performed as a flourish it just flows with the music. This type of arrangement appears a few more times on the album. So if you're enjoying it keep listening ;) After a brief return to the original riff, the song falls nicely into a lovely harmonized section and gradually builds the intensity back up before sharply dropping you off at the end while you think, I need to hear that again.... If you have a progressive radio station in your area, this is the track you'll most likely hear.

Cool Smack - This song just keep saying to me Voivod, Voivod, Viovod........ It sounds weird, I know but I just get reminded of Nothingface and The Outer Limits when i hear it. The kicker is there is yet another fantastic slow/tempered arrangement with sweet vocal lines right in the middle of it.

Big Al - I don't know who this song is about, but I thought of Al Gore...............and I couldn't stop laughing. And the song is great too. Drummers will find this one especially fun as it features probably the most prog sounding moment on the whole disc starting at 1:53. Yep, if you have any doubts these folks can play, this track will help you out with that :)

Castle Builder - Wow, this track just seems to sway back and forth from achingly beautiful to powerfully sobering. Be sure and read the lyrics as you listen. You probably won't get it right away and to be honest, you shouldn't because I think there is a message here that everyone will understand differently but will ultimately be emotionally/spiritually/mentally fulfilling.

Purple Chukz - This track represents the first low spot on the album for me. The singing last about 90 seconds and the rest is all music which is okay, but the music here, aside from a brief (but awesome) acoustic spot sounds too alternative rock for my taste. Worth mentioning here, the last line of vocals is Vanity, at least I'm good at what I do and then the long jam. That's either pure genius or unintentionally ironic.

The Clincher - The first 2 and a half minutes of this song sound like they came straight from a Foo Fighters album. Don't get me wrong, I love the Foo Fighters and those 2 and a half minutes are good, but the rest of the song has a jazzy, almost lounge band thing going on, which is great as well but it makes the song seem thrown together....hmmm unless that's what they were shooting for......

Will O' The Wisp - The best track on the album has to be this one. I insist that you hear it yourself. No, scratch that.. I COMMAND IT!!

The Moon - Who let 'Simon and Garfunkel' in here, seriously? The opening has great vocal harmonies after that it kinda falls into the same category as Purple Chukz.

Ice Clock - A nice medium tempo song to close out the album. This one features some very unusual vocal lines in parts that remind me of 'Boingo' for some reason. It has a great buildup and wraps up things nicely, I only wish it had a more majestic feel too it at the end.

'The Tea Club' have defined their own sound and identity, while presenting a nearly irreproachable album from start to finish. For a first release, that is an amazing accomplishment.

4 stars

R.M.K.