PLOTTING CURVES ON PARADOX MACHINES

On their 3rd release, the band has begun to lengthen the songs telling more complex stories accompanied by a prog musical sensibility not found on their first 2 albums. First off is the bizarre song, "Defunct". With lyrics from an ee cummings poem and a musical accompaniment in 21/8 this sets the album up for the surprises that follow. "Queen of Hearts" harkens back to the 2 bittersweet lost relationship songs of the previous album but with a more mature structure and a beautiful guitar solo that runs through the song in a very 70's Robert Fripp slippery solo tone. The real prog gems here are the 8:54 long multi part suite, "Let Me Sleep" and the following 6:33 song, "My Serenade". "Let Me Sleep" moves through many dynamic volume changes and atmospheric accompaniments like thunderstorms and rain to finally arrive at the conclusion of the song (sounds like someone got their first sampler :-) First powered by a mellotron and sax brass bridge the song ends with a strong guitar solo reminiscent of the heavy and dissonant approach of Godbluff era VDGG. Speaking of VDGG, "My Serenade" sounds like something that might have appeared on a Peter Hammill solo album about a failed relationship. A Simple piano and vocal setting tells the story and ends with the full band and another ripping guitar solo. And if you like guitar solos, the title cut is where you'll find the best guitar work on the whole album. It may not be prog, but at high volume it will wake up any heavy sleepers in the house and demand their attention whether they like it or not! In summary, overall the band now is beginning to displace the hard rock/metal influence of previous albums and let keyboards and other prog characteristics move up to prominence.

While this album is out of print, "Let Me Sleep" and "Plotting Curves on Paradox Machine" appear on the best of album, "Anthology I 1988 - 1992" available on BandCamp.