MONTH OF THE YEAR

4.5 stars. TWIN AGE were a neo prog band out of Sweden who released two incredible back to back albums in the mid- nineties. This is the debut "Month Of The Year" from 1996, then they released "Lialim High" the next year in 1997. Flip a coin with those two. I have both in my "best of" neo prog list, that's how much I think of this band's music. Both times I've spent with this record I also was spending time with ARAGON's "Rocking Horse & Other Stories", and so it's hard not for me to compare the two. By the way my first TWIN AGE album was "Liliam High" back in 2008, I didn't get to their debut, the one I'm reviewing today until 11 years later!

ARAGON certainly has the more powerful singer bringing Fish to mind often, but TWIN AGE beats that ARAGON album for it's beautiful and melancholic emotion. That ARAGON album hits more highs, but it's not nearly as consistent. We get six tracks worth around 40 minutes. My favourite track on here might be the closer "Marble Island". It's just such a consistent record though, and I live for those. "Marble Island" opens with acoustic guitar and vocals just like the opener. The acoustic guitar and atmosphere bring GENESIS to mind. Soaring guitar follows before we get some rare organ sounds before 6 minutes.

This album takes me places and the singer is a huge part of why I love this record and band. "Newgate" has some gusto to it to start with the electric guitar and more upfront drums before settling in with vocals. "Emily Dawn" opens sounding very GENESIS-like before the vocals kick in and the music here is uptempo.

GENESIS is clearly their inspiration. This is a beautiful sounding album. My music!