THE OBLIVION PARTICLE

Of all three albums Spock's Beard had recorded with Ted Leonard on vocals, this is the most eclectic and less accessible of them. Still a very good one, though. But I must admit that, to my ears, it is not as charming and exciting as the other two. Maybe the fact that it is a concept album The Oblivion Particle works better within its context than as songs themselves, I don't know. Listening to it I can not find anything really wrong with it and the second half of the CD is quite strong. That is where the better stuff is, on epics like To Be Free Again and the closer Disappear, although when looking carefully on each one for this review I find that all the tunes have its positive side.

As usual you will find a perfect sound (in terms of production and mixing) and the impeccable performance of all musicians. Leonard was really a much needed blessing for the band and his vocals are simply terrific all over the CD. Still I miss the incredible power and freshness of Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep and, especially, of Noise Floor. This one will certainly satisfy the ones who want to hear something more complicated and dense.

Rating: 3,5 stars. Very good.