DREAMS NO LONGER HESITATE

This album's main sonic signature consists of some pretty hefty math-metal riffs played on a ridiculously downtuned fretless bass (James Huggett, who also provides the various keyboards textures and drums) augmented by the ethereal vocals of Elaine di Falco (of Hughscore 'fame') and bleating horn arrangements of UK jazz musician Martin Archer.

There are a few lazy comparisons you could draw to other bands, but this is really a group with its own sound. While nominally situated in the RIO/avant-prog genre, comparisons could also be drawn to the relentless odd-meter pummelling of Meshuggah, the relentless industrial groove of Godflesh (if they turned prog of course) and the upfront double-tracked bass would also not be out of place in many zeuhl bands.

There is a hypnotic quality about this disc; there is a momentum to the longer tracks ('Sentinel' especially) that you rarely hear outside of space-rock/jam bands. The off-kilter riffs repeat and twist on themselves often for minutes at a time, with the vocals and horns 'on top' of the mix. The result is often thrilling. There are a few moments of respite, though - my personal favourite from this album 'Touch The Moon' and piano-led closer 'Ordinary Miracles' are quite beautiful pieces of music.

This album comes reccommended for anyone looking for something unique; brutal, rhythmic, ethereal and actually quite tuneful at times. A little more variation wouldn't go amiss for their next album, but I look forward to hearing anything from this band in the future. The only thing I can imagine that would turn off some listeners is free-jazz element to the group.