AQUARIUS

On first listen I was ready to give this two. "Overblown prog enamoured with the past. Great sound but needs better songs. File under Transatwanktic". But as you can see I've now given it a four. My initial discomfort seemed to be that while this is an EXCELLENTLY produced album- boy they sound good- it's such a "prog" album, in that it does everything prog albums are supposed to do. Big silly concept, really long songs, plenty of musical flourishes, some really cool, some totally uncalled for, earnest singer etc etc and we end up with something that is not really prog in the traditional sense as it rests on the laurels of established successes rather than forging new ground. Repeat listens however make me recognise just how well they've done this though. If you love classic prog sounds with lots of grandiosity and cheese and don't expect to be shocked and surprised, Haken, who sound a bit like James Labrie fronting latter-day Kaipa, will be right up your alley. The dips into circus metal and big band metal (they don't suit the dramatic atmosphere of the songs- but I do like the hilarious shift into a sudden bit of cocktail jazz in The Point Of No Return) and the growled vocals (I don't mind growls but they're totally out of place here) are among the missteps here but that's about it- Streams verses are a little naive and feel as though they were written by someone for whom English is not a first language but its still a pleasant and enjoyable song. Otherwise this is especially strong for a debut. My favourites are Aquarium and the incredible closer Celestial Elixir- I never get tired of that big chorus hitting. The album makes me play a movie in my head- whether it's the story Haken had in mind I'm not sure as I haven't seen an official version of events. But the story I've made up involves a mermaid being strapped to a rocket and launched into the sun. (I'm totally serious- and of course there's context and background to that but I don't want to type out a mini-novel which is only tangentially connected to the music in a review.) And if an album can make me weave a story which involves a scene so preposterous, yet still moves me, well that's good old fashioned prog isn't it. On paper incredibly stupid and excessive, in practice electrifying and emotional. I hold off on the fifth star because there are a few bum notes (in terms of musical choices, not literal ones) and because I would like to see Haken innovating more, but this is a pretty good way to start a career. Worth investigating.