TERRAFORMER

I was thinking about doing a long and thorough review on this album. That was the first sign I hadn't listened to this recently. Well, I just have, and I've realised that if I do what I call a "thorough" review, I'll be here writing it until next Sunday.

This is because Thank You Scientist, being Thank You Scientist, expanded on their older work and made one of the most eclectic and musically varied albums ever. An album so eclectic and musically varied it would take ages to describe and judge properly. An album, nevertheless, that has helped shape new/modern prog. But I'll get on. 

It contains jazz fusion with "Wrinkle" and "Shatner's Lament", it expands on funk with "Son of a Serpent", it adds a bit of metal with "Swarm" and "Terraformer", and classic prog with "Everyday Ghosts" (I say "classic prog"... not really classic, just prog - and odd, experimental prog at that). Thank You Scientist are more imaginative than ever on this album - there's nothing like it.

Or is there? Well, they're certainly not the only band that's "imaginative". Another band whose music I was reviewing recently, Pyramid Theorem, has a similar use of fusing prog, new experimental methods and, in their case, metal. This, of course, does not mean they are similar bands and part of some new sub-genre - in fact, they're nothing like each other, Pyramid Theorem is progressive metal and Thank You Scientist is jazz-experimental-fuelled crossover prog - but this does not alter the fact that when a band of prog metalheads is using similar methods as a band of prog "what on earth is this?"s... something like a new wave of prog is coming, is what I'm driving at.

Anyway, back to this album - nothing like has been seen before this day and age, even though other bands in this day and age are coming close. And, on that note, before I start waffling on and on forever, I reach my conclusion.

It's got normal prog, jazz and funk influences, a hint of metal, a general experimental approach - surely anything you'd ever want in a prog album. Therefore, five stars. Expanding on that, I give my two requirements for a five star album:

1. The songs must all be excellent.

2. It must work brilliantly as an album.

Every song is good - or failing that, excellent. "FXMLDR", in my opinion the best track, meets, I think, the requirements for a classic - an amazing song, I will say no more. As for the second requirement... The tracks couldn't have been arranged better, but after a while it does give you a bit of a headache. That, however, does not prevent it from being a masterpiece, and since PA says a masterpiece must be five stars, I'll let them off there.

So... five stars. I expect to hear even better on their next attempt, though! Maybe six stars!

Next time, I think I'll review something easier - Wish You Were Here, maybe. Or Permanent Waves.