SUBSIDE

Obviously inspired by the musics of STEVEN WILSON and ANATHEMA, this music has some very nice melodies and tricks but it is kind of raw and underdeveloped. IMHO, the band's songwriting needs maturation; the songs are rather one or two-dimensional, lacking the multi-dimensionality of prog masters. Without a doubt they have some gifts and talents, perhaps Mr. Burkart needs more collaborators in the song-writing department to broaden, deepen and expand upon his ideas.

The strummed guitar chord progressions need something more. The solos are flashy but lack some real relevance and emotion. The songs sometimes never develop beyond initial guitar two chord progressions. The vocal harmonies are also too linear, not modulated enough. Nice sounds that are sometimes a bit too drawn out. Not unlike the afore-mentioned Steven Wilson and Anathema. Highlights are the more devoloped, less repetitive songs, like the pretty Neil Young/West Indian Girl-ish opener, "Within You, Without You," "Subside," the Post/Math Rock-ish "Downbeat," melodic "Moons of Mars," the heavier, more sonically 'finished' (though poorly vocalized) "Delusion." A bit too raw and unpolished for four stars. But, I'll be on the lookout for this band's next effort.