BOTTLED OUT OF EDEN

Bottled Out Of Eden is perhaps Knifeworld's most accessible record, but ultimately the most satisfying too. With lashings of Gong-infused space rock (High/Aflame) and Canterbury Scene bands such as Hatfield & the North, Knifeworld manage to bring these diverse influences into 2016, and hopefully reach the next generation of prog audiences. Personal favourites include Foul Temple (according to frontman Kavus Torabi about a hopeful vision of a society where the evil people are defeated and the 'good guys' build a new world out of the remains), The Deathless and Feel the Sorcery (perhaps the album's single?). Highly recommended to anyone seeking the lighter side of prog, but with plenty of thinking required too. I had it playing in my room non-stop for a week.

Knifeworld now release their third full length album that continues their development from 2014's Unravelling. They have now established themselves at the forefront of modern progressive music. Whereas The Unravelling was a band execution of Kavus Torabi's ideas this is much more of a band effort. It still playfully bounces between wonky pop, avant-garde and krautrockish psychedelia. The major instrumentation is Kavus' guitar but he leaves plenty of space for keyboards and bassoon to be major contributors. Kavus has most of the vocal duties though Melanie Woods vocals are probably a significant benefit to the overall impact. A strong candidate for album of the year. Expertly mastered by Bob Drake in the Pyrenees.

Kavus Torabi has learned a lot through his work with SPIDER STACEY (The POGUES), Tim SMITH (The CARDIACS) and DAEVID ALLEN (GONG) as well as British Zeuhl band, GUAPO, but the effect of these widely diverse musical styles may have caused a kind of mistaken or lost identity--a kind of chamelonic "Zelig" effect (to steal Woody Allen's idea). In each of the songs and even the layers of sounds and stylings used in the songs on Bottled Out of Eden seems so disparate and splintered as to cause an internal tension to me, the listener--it's as if I'm being torn apart by the different directions in which the drums, bass, guitars, keyboards, horns, folk instruments, multiple vocals, and tempos are each trying to take me.

Five star songs: the XTC-like 3. "I Am Lost" (7:14) (9/10) and the slower, piano-based micro-drama, 9. "A Dream About a Dream" (5:43) (9/10).

Four star songs: the simple and pretty, 5. "Foul Temple" (2:38) (8.5/10); 1. "High-Aflame" (6:29 (8.5/10); the simple and straightforward, 10. "Secret Words" (3:12) (8/10); the most integrated multi-layered song on the album (which ends up, ultimately, disappointing), 11. "Feel the Sorcery" (3:50) (8/10); 2. "The Germ Inside" (4:48) (7.5/10), and; the jazzy King Crimson-like and mostly instrumental, 7. "I Must Set Fire to Your Portrait" (5:37) (7/10).

Three star songs: the boring, drab, 4. "The Deathless" (5:26) (6.5/10) and the torturous, atonal hodgepodge that is 8. "Lowered into Necromancy" (4:04) (6/10).

If everything Kavus writes sounds like him, then this is one dude that I would not be able to hang around with very very long--his multi-directional freneticism is beyond my capacity or interest to tolerate. P.S. If Knifeworld has been admitted to PA, where is the daddy of these post-punk pop-oriented Brits, Andy Partridge/ XTC?

3.5 stars. A definite step down from the previous album "The Unravelling" in my opinion. On the Wayside Music site they say this about the two most recent studio albums from KNIFEWORLD. "Uplifting, euphoric and spacious where it's predecessor was claustrophobic and gloomy". I'll take gloomy every time over energetic and bouncey which is how I'd describe "Bottled Out Of Eden". There is more of a CARDIACS vibe on this album as well. Love that album title by the way but the lyrics sure don't do a lot for me. Lots of horns on this one when compared to "The Unravelling" and one reviewer even mentioned Ska. Another site described this as "Complex and elaborate Pop blending lush arrangements with radical song structures, for fans of GENESIS and XTC." I'm starting to think that Melanie the female vocalist should have more of the spotlight, I just like her singing more. Oh and the bass absolutely kills on this album, it's my favourite aspect of it.

"High/ Aflame" is a song that I feel shouldn't be the lead off track. The first 2 plus minutes do little for me mainly because of the singing but when it changes and becomes more uptempo with horns, drums and more I'm impressed. This song just feels like it starts the album off on the wrong foot. I do like the energy after 4 minutes though. "The Germ Inside" opens with piano melodies before they all kick in. This is uptempo as the male vocals join in. Again lots of energy and fun only I prefer this one more to the opening track. Check out the upfront bass. "I Am Lost" has my attention early on with the drums, horns and bass. Female vocals arrive as the bass and drums support. I like this. The horns are back but check out the bass! Male and female vocals after 1 1/2 minutes as the bass continues to be upfront. A calm with piano and more a minute later. It picks back up around 4 1/2 minutes and there's that incredible bass again.

"The Deathless" opens with drums only as male vocal melodies and guitar join in. Male vocals follow. It's more powerful before 4 minutes and I'm reminded of CARDIACS here. The horns honk and the bass is prominent. Vocal melodies and honking horns end it. "Foul Temple" is more like a Folk song with strummed guitar and the laid back male vocals standing out. The horns seem to breathe in and out after 1 1/2 minutes. "Vision Of The Bent Path" is just over 30 seconds of melancholic horns. "I Must Set Fire To Your Portrait" again features some really upfront bass. This is a bouncy tune with guitar out front early on then the horns kick in. Male vocals around 2 1/2 minutes.

"Lowered Into Necromancy" opens with intricate guitar melodies as the bass and drums help out. Male vocals join in. A hazy calm 1 1/2 minutes in as the vocals become almost spoken then it kicks back in. Contrasts continue. "A Dream About A Dream" is one of my favourites. Piano and male vocals remind me so much of CARDIACS. Just a beautiful song. "Secret Words" opens with acoustic guitar and some atmosphere as reserved male vocals join in. Female vocals help out as well. "Feel The Sorcery" is a bright and energetic feel good tune with female and male vocals trading off.

If your a big CARDIACS fan I think you'll love this album. There's just not enough enjoyment for me to click 4 stars.