TURBULENCE

What if ARENA or IQ would play a PINK FLOYD/ALAN PARSONS PROJECT album?

Then we'd probably get another "Turbulence" ;) Yes, this band is very much influenced by above-mentioned ones, and the CD itself is more Neo in the beginning (with nice songs like "Sinful City" and "Trickster") ,then Neo/Space-rock in the middle (with selection of short and weird - almost experimental - pieces like "Do you sleep at Night?" and "Bonny Marlene") and finally Space-rock in the end (closing 20-minute long epic "Strom", which is actually non-worthy of its length - could have been much shorter). Nice record despite the low-budget quality and overall absence of new ideas (good musicianship though). Not recommended (only for fans of Spacy Neo) and 2.5 stars

If nothing else this is an interesting album. For one thing I had a hard time even finding this album on our site here because it just says "Turbulence" on the cover and the band BRASSE is nowhere to be found anywhere on it, except that it's the last name of the leader of this project. Maybe it's because of all the guests that are featured on here or maybe it was an oversight. Anyway we have CLIFFHANGER's drummer playing throughout as well as ARAGON's guitarist doing the same. Bert from LIKE WENDY plays and sings on some tracks and there are more guests as well helping out.

"Storm" is a short fast paced instrumental track. "The Eye Of The Storm" features pulsating synths as Bert from LIKE WENDY comes in vocally in a reserved manner. It's kind of spacey too. "Sinful City" has this instrumental intro and reserved vocals arrive when it settles. It builds some and the guitar solos late. "Trickster" is the other track Bert sings on. Atmospheric synths early as reserved vocals join in.The tempo does eventually pick up some. "Fairground Knight" is orchestral to start then the tempo picks up when the vocals arrive.This is better and I like his vocals. It does settle and pick back up again as contrasts continue. Good song.

"Greedmaster" is divided into two short tracks. I'm not a fan of the first part at all but the second section is cool. "A Selection Of Short Love Songs" consists of three songs. First is the less than one minute "Song" which is not cool at all. Yikes ! "Bonny Marlene" is different with the samples and such. "Travellers" is another one of those "What were they thinking ?!" moments. "Storm" is the over 20 minute center-piece. My favourite track by far. Nature sounds to start then piano and a beat both arrive. A calm follows and you can hear the weather report in the background. Another calm and vocals come in.Then it builds and guitar comes in later. An interesting suite. "In My Blood" is orchestral flavoured with piano as reserved vocals join in.

Barely 3 stars despite some highlights.