BUILDINGS

A total surprise this fourth release by Dutch neo band Timelock, one of my favourite underdogs through the years. Looks like I'm about the only one who reviews this band. Well, I must admit their albums are not really everywhere around in the stores, certainly not abroad. When I saw this one I bought it immediately because you never know if you get another chance. I didn't expect a fourth album actually because of the long time between their albums. You just don't know if they are using a lot of time for their next or whether they are eventually disbanded.

They're not obviously and listening to the first three songs one might say, they are still alive indeed ! Three good songs to open the album and getting me in the right mood. On the other hand I detect a lack of the energetic style of their previous album, Circle of Deception. That album was going in the direction of heavy prog almost but this album shows the softer side of Timelock. And when the album goes on it even becomes more and more obvious.

I don't know if it was a deliberate choice of Timelock to do Buildings this way or if it just turned out this way after composing each individual song. Whichever it was, it has become an almost mellow sounding album, the quality is still there and if I'm in the mood for music like this, no problem but if I would have wanted anything like Circle .. forget it, this is totally different. Because I absolutely loved the predecessor and it's style and sound, gave that one 4 stars because of that and regard this as somewhat less in those respects I will give this 3 stars. Recommended for lovers of the easier side of IQ.

Timelock is an interesting band from Holland that I had the opportunity to know sometime in the past two years. Although I found their songs of good quality a certain lack of overall direction on their CDs did not move me enough into writing a review. And I guess I wouldn´t bother to listen to their new stuff if my friend and PA colleague Henk (Progrules) didn´t recommend it. Since he knows my tastes fairly well I decided to take a shot.

Ok, this is not a very original stuff: simple, melodic rock with strong prog influences. What differs this new album from the previous ones is that they seem to find their style, as the CD as a whole has a very convincing sense of direction and appealing sound. And believe me, nowadays you don´t find too many albums that has strong cuts from beginning to end. I find it hard to compare them to other bands, but I guess there´s a kind of Saga feel on Buildings: like that group their tunes seem deceptively simple at the first listening while they are in fact very well craft and arranged. I specially like the guitar work of Ronald Demilt and also the very tasteful keyboards of Julian Driessen.

It´s hard to point a highlight, since most of the tracks are really precious small gems. I only wish the instrumental Ben Mundo could be longer and more well developed. The more experimental side of the group is also present on the two last tracks Moonchild and We Can Not (the Saga connection comes in mind again, but not quite).

Conclusion: very pleasant album and very promising too. If you like melodic rock with a prog twist, go for it! You won´t be disappointed. I´m looking forward to hear their next works. Not really essential on a site like PA (it would be a 5 star rating in a melodic rock one), but more than just good. 3,5 stars overall.