DINOSAURUS STEREOPHONICUS

(The First Review.) At the time of release - when prog was again gaining some respect and popularity also in Finland - this double disc was greeted as CMX's magnum opus in prog. There wasn't much competition within the genre, I think (Ageness comes to mind as strongly Genesis-influenced old- school [neo-]proggers.) Since then CMX have done even more ambitious prog album Talvikuningas (2008) which I haven't yet listened to. But what pleases me with this one is the fact that here they continue the not-so-heavy approach of their most accessible 90's albums such as the excellent Aura (1994), only with more progressive flavour. (Or maybe the heaviness was in those tracks that I didn't include to my music archives and therefor have now forgotten.) And unlike Ageness, they didn't choose to show off obvious influences of classic prog but were defining the new paths of Finnish progressive rock. Many compositions are not really proggy on their own, but the whole has a certain artistic coherense, an enjoyable balance of various moods and sonic structures.

Two hours of music include a lot of less interesting stuff (to me at least), but the best are among the very finest music by the group. There are some tasty instrumentals such as the mysterious opener 'Kreetan härkä'. My next highlight is the sixth track 'Pelon enkeli' ("Angel of Fear") in which A. W. Yrjänä's vocals are given an extra treatment: imagine the soft verses of 'Aqualung' ("sun streaking cold...") sung with continuous pressing of adam's apple and you get the point. Also the playing builds up the ghostlike atmosphere. 'Ilmestyskirjanpitäjä' is a 2-minute song with acoustic guitar. The title is a typical wordplay of Yrjänä, putting together Apocalypse and book-keeper. Before the instrumental "Negative Overture" that ends the first disc there are two long tracks. 'Baikonur' (10:08) is a great, deeply atmospheric composition that leans on delicate nuances - and anti-war lyrics - instead of power play. It's almost free of percussion.

The second disc has several succesful songs reminding of Aura's catchiness, and to me it has more to offer than the first one. The prog highlight is the 10-minute 'Olkoon täysi sinun maljasi' ("Let Thy Cup Be Full") which again builds on slowness. This may not be the best work ever by CMX but surely it is one of the most essential for a prog listener.