RHYTHM, CHORD & MELODY

The Reign of Kindo's first full studio album is a fantastic effort. Each track has so many beautiful elements it's hard to give a thorough review. Although, through all these, one of these elements is the attempt at being pop, which pulls the masterpiece tag back a bit. However, the overall album is extremely good.

The Moments in Between opens the album with near tear jerking beauty. The piano and drums really headline this track, with fantastic vocal melodies sweeping throughout the track. Creative rhythms with punchy bass makes this track not only majestic, but also a rocking masterpiece.

Breathe Again is one of those tracks that is good, but overall is just an attempt to get radio playtime (which isn't bad, but when you're trying to be more pop than prog, it isn't). The Rhodes piano intro is nice and soft, and again the great vocal melodies make the song a real pleasure to listen to. Now, don't get me wrong, the song is great, and the chorus is fantastically catchy, but is a little too pop based for my liking.

Great Blue Sea is a quicker more majestic song than some of the others. The song is appropriate, with sweeping melodies and psychedelic guitar parts making one feel as if they are floating above just that.

Let It Go is the unessential pop song on the album. Where Breathe Again had some cool prog elements, this song is really just pure pop. The trumpet solo breaks the monotony, but sadly it is short. Overall, this is most likely the weakest track on the album.

Nice to Meet You is also more poppy, but also has some nice jazz based melodies and rhythms, making this track more creative than its poppy predecessor. Crescendos and swinging melodies and rhythms really make this track unique.

Till We Make Our Ascent is definitely one of the best on the album. The crescendoing intro breaks into a nice song overall. The post-chorus verse instrumental sections really change the pace of the album nicely. Rhythms are creative as always, as are the jazz influences piano work.

Something in the Way That You Are is a bit more pop based again, but is still good. A strong sense of soul and soft jazz is present, which changes this highly dynamic album yet again. Sweeping melodies again come in, and the catchy chorus make this track one of the better on the album. Dynamics and instrumental sections are fun and creative, also.

The title instrumental track is no doubt one of the best on the album. There is so many dynamic parts that there is no reason why it shouldn't be. A haunting piano intro opens the song on a melancholy note, and although it doesn't change, the beautiful melodies make it no doubt one of the more beautiful songs I've heard in a long time.

The previous track really is a nice opener for the next track, I Hear That Music Play, a fun and creative song. The signature Reign of Kindo sound is present throughout the album, with highly present piano and drums and backing psychedelic sounding guitar work. Another creative effort, another great song.

The Memory of Our Day is on a similar pace as the title track in the beginning, but that changes drastically as the song progresses. Quick stepping verses and choruses make this song a real treat.

Morning Cloud is the beginning of a fantastic exit for the album. Creative rhythms and melodies are beautiful. The guitar is a bit more prominent in this song, with some parts even crunching in their amplifiers that give yet another dynamic to the album. The drum solos are highly jazz influenced, and the entire track just is really fun, with some great instrumental work.

Hold Out, the closing track, one of the best in the collection, never mind just on the album! The song crescendos into one of the most fun, creative and rhythmically fantastic songs I've heard. Dynamics swim in and out of the song, from quick to soft to quick to soft, and back again! There are so many influences throughout the song, it really makes the entire album. What a song!!!

ALBUM OVERALL: What a great album! Each track has a sprig of something great, whether it be jazz or soul or hard rock or Latin swing! The only drawback on the album is the strong element of pop in some of the tracks that detracts from the progressive beauty. 4+ stars!