SLOW BURN 1

I am not sure whether it was the dark mood of this album, or the amount of work on my plate ("There's too much on your plate", Leo Koperdraat sings on the track Miracle as I write this), but it took me almost 6 months and countless listens to get around to reviewing this album. Does that mean it's a bad album? On the contrary, this is a set of 11 thought out tracks, in the style that we know from Fractal Mirror's previous album Garden of Ghosts.

However, compared to the previous album, there are quite a few differences. Partly because of the lyrics, which deal with the way technology is disrupting our lives - from the internet and smartphones all the way to our large telescopes that makes us learn about the universe. The deep, slow voice of Leo Koperdraat, which has not lost any of it's Steve Kilby likeness, tells what this all does to our minds and our lives, accompanied by his guitar and the ever so well executed drumming of Frank Urbaniak and Ed van Haagen's deep bass and floating keyboard work - and a nice list of guest musicians, including bass players Leopold Blu-Sky and Kenny Bisset Sr, and guitarits/producer Brett Kull (Echolyn).

Playing this album during my evening walks in the dark makes me change moods frequently, in line with the music. From melancholy (Miracle, Embers) to wonder (V838), via sadness (Fading, Embers - where Leo sings "We slowly burn...") back to melancholy on Universal. What makes me happy underneath is the skill with which the compositions are formed. The mix of rock, indie and progressive rock the band claims to create does work well with the lyrics, and the eminent darkness of the lyrics is complemented by wonderful, fitting melodies.

The band has been worrying, also in public, about the low sales, and I can see why - this is not the most complex album to get into musically, but the moodiness may keep people away from it. A shame really, because after these 6 months this is an album I'd like to recommend, for an evening of contemplation every once in a while.

Also published on my blog www.angelosrockorphanage.com