FACADE

Finnish progressive rock band Aqua-Wreck was founded some fourteen years ago and now they have finally released their self-produced debut album. It's a wild ride into the adventurous world of the early 70's eclectic prog, with personally absorbed influences from e.g. King Crimson, ELP, Van der Graaf Generator and Gentle Giant. Saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, flute and the vintage organ and electric piano sounds are used alongside the regular rock instrumentation.

All lyrics were written by vocalist Totti Kaarle. His strong voice has a bit of Greg Lake and John Wetton while he says to be strongly influenced by Peter Hammill for his acrobatic approach. Often his vocals make me think of the Irish band Fruupp, too. The keys & reeds player Taavi Heikkil' -- who also plays in another fine, retro-oriented prog band Malady -- composed the opening piece 'The Strangest Song (Ja simbilam malibmis aJ)' full of fast-paced, Zappa-like intensity and the heavily repeated chorus featuring that odd subtitle. The arrangement flirts with big band ingredients and Gentle Giant -like funky twists.

Instrumental track 'Ah! Per l'Ultima Volta' is a gorgeous prog rock arrangement of a piece from Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot, giving the melodic lead role to a Morricone-reminding trumpet. Due to the organ I also sense a VdGG vibe here. Totti Kaarle's soul-influenced and dynamic composition 'Bastard's Fugue' sounds good at first, but towards the end there's an unbearably distorted, noisy and chaotic segment, which fortunately stops at last and is followed by a pretty coda for piano. I have a similarly ambivalent relationship with bassist Kalle Korkeam'ki's composition 'Demanded Recognition'. Without its manically repeated frenziest (Crimsonesquely Schizoid!) moments it would be a great eclectic prog piece. Thus the vinyl's A side leaves me somewhat exhausted and perplexed.

The B side is by far more rewarding to my ears. Korkeam'ki's three pieces form a loose continuation in which the two-part 'In Their Rendering' is divided by instrumental 'Life is but a Dream, an Illusion''. This is a lovely, serene, folky ballad in the vein of 'I Talk to the Wind' without vocals. Guitarist Lauripekka Muurinen plays also flute in this melodic piece, and leaves me craving for more of the mellowness amidst the more intensive complexity on the course of the album. The 'Rendering' tracks are also very good, the instrumental second part circulating the first part's motifs in a jazz-rock way and slightly reminding of King Crimson circa 1973.

The 9-minute title track composed by Kaarle is an impressive highlight showcasing his Hammill influences as a vocalist. The moody melodies are full of emotion and the diverse arrangement has great spots for trumpet, sax, flute, etc., containing even some Mellotron sounds ' which, in addition to the flute, I would have loved to hear more.

For the highly uncomfortable moments on the latter half of the A side, I initially thought my rating would be rounded down to three stars. But Facade is so impressive and original as a genuine eclectic prog debut that it's definitely worth four stars. It's interesting to wait and see how the band will craft their skills for the follow-up. Hope there'll be one!

P.S. The cover art is by Lauripekka Muurinen. The first look at the mosaic of buildings made me think of Radiohead's Hail to the Thief but on closer look there's no notable similarity. Especially for the colours the design suits well to the album.