CRIME SCENE

RPWL (Risettion-Postl-Wallner-Lung) is the progressive rock band formed in 97 excelling in PINK FLOYD covers. They try to find their marks with Ray Wilson for a while and move away from the Floyds with a more raw, aggressive sound while keeping art-rock atmospheres. An 8th album on crimes and other perversions with two of the initiators still at the helm, here we go.

'Victim of Desire' just the intro makes me want to go see them; gradual build-up with a soaring solo from Kalle, the sampled voice of Yogi; it reminds me of the modern transition of PENDRAGON on 'Pure'; emotion, languor, wanderings on the FLOYD whatever we say in more rock; spatial break and jerky riff, good cinematic evolution for the slap with a solo flirting with those of Michel from MYSTERY. 'Red Rose' piano ballad for a funky bass melody and an underlying macabre story best left undisclosed; RPWL floydian atmosphere for the romanticism and melting solo then spleen if that is possible. 'A Cold Spring Day in '22' short, radio-edit, about gruesome Bavarian murder, yes prog isn't all gay; a playful, ironic chorus and a melodic tune. 'Life in a Cage' intro which I like between Peter GABRIEL 'Biko' and TALKING HEADS; cavernous rhythm box, discordant synths pouring into melancholy for a dark atmosphere, a Gilmourian solo even if we know that it is Kalle at the scraper. 'King of the World' masterpiece for the duration, the convolutions, changes of tempo, the appearance of a Moog, the plaintive guitar; intimate break and a flight of spleen notes, in short, the whole panoply of today's progressive rock; the second instrumental break brings up the beauty and brutality of rock, a piece to be listened to again for a long time. 'Another Life Beyond Control' wow, HENDRIX, the scratchy sounding WHITE STRIPES, a saturated fat bluesy riff old as my dresses, a catchy chorus; the break, what to say innovative, psyche; hovering final return with a Yogi solo to perfect the image of nervous prog rock.

RPWL will be criticized, evolving without denying its basics; modern, intricate clutter at its best; a duration short enough to keep you going and induce cravings; power not to fall asleep, problem of some current groups. A superb album much more innovative and catchy, melodic, of the very beautiful prog of a great group. (4.5)