LATERALUS

I was lured to this band after reading that Mr Fripp was a fan and, mostly, after listening to the two mp3's (which are truelly astonishing) on this site. I finally got a copy of this album and promised myself not to get too carried away on the basis of well-meaning reviews and two freebie songs (picked by 'whom'?!, btw). Then I spend a week or two listening, although after the first few minutes and notes I was not only being carried away, I was swept away by the sheer genius of this band: there is hardly anybody else around at the time to make so much out of so very little (except Crimson probably). In a straight, old-fashioned Progressive kind of way, i.e. lots of chord changes, sweet vocal harmony, rousing solos and dream-like keyboard passages you will find as good as none here. In a Progressive kind of Progressive musical thinking this is where you will find hope in the presence: intricate, slow developement of song and chord structures, odd (at times very odd) percussive timing, heart/soul/body-felt vocals and lyrics and indeed melodies (you will have to LISTEN). For those who still doubt that this band should be included on this site I recommend to listen to 'Schism' and simply imagine the guitar- and bassline as a Hugh Banton keyboard riff and replace Keenan's voice with that of Peter Hammill's and you have got a straight forward, perfect Van Der Graaf Generator track without the jazzy noodlings. As one reviewer mentioned previously even our 'Gog' Hammill would be proud of most of the lines Maynard whispers/sings/shouts. The Fripp/Crimson connection comes in where the guitar is concerned, i.e. it's all very 'Discipline' era controlled and highly professional, 'disciplined' playing, only 'heavier' and louder. One could write books on drummer Danny Carey's and bassist Justin Chancellor's capabilities and one probably will or has done. All in all this is Progressive Music, music, that has its heart in the Golden Age of the Seventies, made by people who have probably been growing up to the quite dreary sounds of the Eighties (let's not dismiss Fripp's, Talking Heads' and Eno's era contributions), exploded in the Nineties and came to their full as 21st Century Schizoid Men (wouldn't mind another cover version come to think of it). YES, this album is essential, NO it's NOT simply another 'Progressive Metal', Grunge or 'Let's-Rehash-Close-To-The- Edge-For-The-Sake-Of-It' release. It's a piece of very powerful, and yet very sensitive and fine music, and you are here, on this site, to spot and appreciate the difference.