SPAM

Poland is becoming a 'pleasant progrock paradise: after Collage, Quidam, Riverside and Satellite here is the interesting four piece band (including keyboard, violin and guitar synthesizer) Lizard! This site doesn't contain many reviews but this is already their fourth studio CD entitled Spam (after their debut album from 1997) and divided into six pieces, Spam #1-Spam #6.

Despite the King Crimson group name Lizard, the music is not too obviously derived from King Crimson. Some tracks contain King Crimson elements (both the early band as the new incarnation but in general the focus is on the excellent violinplay that reminds me of David Cross and JL Ponty. You can enjoy lots of great soli! The music sounds pleasant and melodic featuring tension between the heavy guitar riffs and the flowing violin work. The songs alternates between dreamy and propulsive and bombastic with inspired Polish vocals. The keyboards sound a bit subdued but if you listen good these are blended very subtle into the music. The final track Spam #6 (at about 12 minutes) delivers halfway the most obvious King Crimson hints featuring propulsive drum beats and repetetive guitar work along fine piano and violin play, wonderful and exciting!This is a fine progrock album that will delight the King Crimson fans and those who like the violin.

LIZARD are one of those bands that i'd be a lot bigger fan of if they we're strictly all instrumental.The vocals are in Polish and unfortunately really take away from my enjoyment of the music. It is a disappointment because I really like their style as they have a KING CRIMSON flavour with violin and it can be quite dark at times.

"Spam # 1" opens with spoken vocals then it kicks in hard rather quickly before settling in with violin.Vocals and violin will lead the way although the guitar is prominant at times. It ends like it began. Good song except for the vocals. "Spam # 2" is dark then it kicks in KING CRIMSON- like. Passionate vocals before a minute. It stays heavy except for the brief light sections that come and go occassionaly. Love the heaviness though. "Spam # 3" opens with gentle guitar, violin and reserved vocals. A beat follows and it does pick up some later.

"Spam # 4" has this drum / guitar intro then the vocals and bass join in.Violin follows. I like the sound after 3 1/2 minutes when the vocals stop and the violin plays over the heaviness.Vocals are back late. "Spam # 5" is laid back but dark with reserved vocals. It picks up after 2 1/2 minutes. Violin a minute later when the vocals stop.Vocals are back 7 1/2 minutes in.Violin ends it. "Spam # 6" features gentle guitar and fragile vocals with piano.Violin arrives after 2 minutes then the tempo picks up. I like this one a lot,especially the long instrumental section.

"Psychopuls" is my favourite album from the band but this ranks as number two. Good record. 3.5 stars.