SOLAR PROJECT

The couple of years that SOLAR PROJECT took to create their fourth album IN TIME was productive. This album takes a lot of the creative ideas they displayed on "The House Of S. Phrenia" and toned down the blatant influences a bit. Not totally, the Pink Floyd influence is still the dominant feature here but this time around they create new ways of taking the Floydian space rock moods and sounds and tweaking them into new arenas. It is still totally recognizable but interesting in the approach. I also find the vocals to be much better this time around with lots of vocalists contributing to the album which really makes this feel like a PROJECT.

IN TIME has no less than six lead and two backing vocalists, two bassists, a flautist, guitarist, drummer and two keyboardists, one being totally dedicated to the Hammond organ. This is definitely retro classic prog here but it is totally updated for 90s consumption with very good production qualities and nice creative ways of changing things up. It actually reminds me of The Mars Volta in that regard and at times like on "Crime Time" even the vocals remind me of that band. One of the strongest qualities of this album is that most tracks keep things interesting with novel ways of adding twists and turns but the music never overwhelms as this is psychedelic space rock in its nature and never an eclectic speedfest. There are a few times where there are energetic outbreaks with heavy guitar and ELP keyboard runs but sparingly.

I like most of the tracks on here but i have to mention the monster behemoth of a closer "Time To Die." This one is confusing because on the CD it says "Time To Die (Part 1-6)" and then the following closer is "Time To Die (Part 2)" however these are all divided up into tracks 6-12. I pretty much like the album up to the point where this lengthy series of tracks which actually seem totally unrelated other than lyrical content. I do like the majority of these but it's in the midst of the "Die" tracks that i find some of the weak filler rearing their ugly heads marring an otherwise very strong album. The range of styles incorporated without making anything feel forced is really noticeably impressive.

Overall, this is a very welcome step up from the previous album. I am definitely sold on this band and am amazed that it is not very well known as there are scant few reviews and very little info in general on the internet. The musicianship is actually quite proficient and since my main complaint about the previous album was the mediocre vocals and overuse of Floydian worship, i can shout in glee that this album solves those problems for the most part. As stated, when Floydian influences occur, they do so in different styles and tempos and even time signatures. This band deserves a little more recognition. Not a long lost masterpiece but IN TIME is definitely a very well constructed prog album that warrants multiple listening experiences. This one should definitely please retro progheads who like some creative liberties but not to the point where it inhibits the retro mood that is intended.

The SOLAR PROJECT was started in 1988 by Robert Voker, Janacek Terhoeven and Peter Terhoeven. Their eclectic progressive sound has found a home on Musea Records, where THE HOUSE OF S. PHRENIA is their third album but only the first i have encountered. I review this album having never heard anything else by this band. There is a lot to love about this album. There are many cool sounds eked out of many guitar slides, many keyboard runs that bend and morph with fairly strong song structures. But likewise there are many ho hum moments as well.

This is a concept album that explores the depths of the human psyche and each track represents a different aspect of the human condition.The tracks are broken up by narrative leading the listener to a different floor in a department store. Such as first floor Mr. "Anitor's" apartment to announce the first track which is a short but sweet super funky freakout with some Herbie Hancock type synths bending back and forth like a yoga instructor. I was beginning to wonder what kind of prog this was. Funk and prog are certainly the odd couple but the track ends as quickly as it gets heated up and then off to more serious prog endeavors.

Starting on the second floor "S. Phrenia" which is a great story about schizophrenia and some equally compelling progified song structures going on. Nice mood enhancing synths engulf a steady rock beat with amplified guitars and some rough and ready backup singers to usher in an ever increasing speed tempo picking up. The track is great for keeping a pleasing melody revolving around a wealth of instrumental passages and an army of vocalists adding their counterpoints to the catchiness.

While there is a lot to love about HOUSE OF S. PHRENIA, this is a very lengthy album that lasts 75 minutes. I personally feel that about a third of this album could have been cut off and it would have been a much stronger album. While there is a strong beginning that displays a lot of creativity and and slight nods to Pink Floyd, by the time we get to the end of the album we get bombarded with endless Floydian noodling and space rock meandering that outstays its welcome. While the concept of the album is a lofty one tackling one of the most complex subjects ever to grace this planet Earth, the musical offerings just aren't up to the task in accompanying these ideas. There are also sitars, flamenco guitar parts and lots of little bursts of coolness.

The lead vocals are a little hit and miss for me. While the background vocals tend to soften the results, i just feel the lead vocals should be stronger with music like this, sometimes they fumble a little. Still though not a bad album and one that is enjoyable albeit with noticeable blemishes pocking its countenance. This album has sold me on checking out future releases by the SOLAR PROJECT because there is a lot of potential here that i hope has been developed.

I'll give 4,71 stars the beginning of the album didn't please me at all, But when I was going to turn the cd off the music started to get better and better (after 4 minutes of the 1st track), and I just loved the album

1. Time Part I (7:34) The beginning is quite borring, the bass sound too much elctronic, but at the 4:00 the hammond comes and makes the rest of the music very good

(3/5)

2. About time (4:43) The acoustic/electric guitar intro is just amazing, and I liked a lot of the people talking, very good track and a philosofical reflexion about what is time (5/5)

3. Crime Time (5:55) Perfect lyrics, awesome acoustic guitar intro, cool variations, a really remarkable music (5/5)

4. Time Out (7:12) Excelent music and lyrics (5/5)

5. Zeitgeist (6:01) Man, it reminds me focus and deep purple, with a kind of elp organ parts. It's not sooo prog, but is excelent, anyway (5/5)

6. to 11. Time To Die (27:08) I think it's better to listen to that, it's an excelent epic track wich deserves 5 stars (5/5)

12. Time Part II (8:15) Good ending for the album, finishing the idea of the first track, 5 stars too (5/5)

This is a German band , their debut CD The Final Solution was released in 1989 so you can conclude that Solar Project is making prog for almost twenty years!

This new CD (their sixth studio album) contains 7 compostions that sound simply structured but very tasteful coloured by guitar and especially keyboards, the Hammond organ work often evokes Manfred Wieczorke his work in early Eloy. The guitarplay has obvious hints of David Gilmour, especially in the opener Gray (also delicate saxophone solo and omnipresent organ sound) and Black (alternating with very compelling organ work). My highlight is the long track Green (more than 15 minutes) featuring lots of shifting moods and very pleasant work on guitar (from heavy riffs and sensitive play to a captivating psychedelic solo and a fine duet with the organ) and kebyoards (from soaring synthesizers and compelling Hammond sounds to frequent eruptions on the choir-Mellotron. Halfway the climate turns into psychedelic like Pink Floyd At Pompeii. The final part delivers fat guitar riffs and fiery guitar runs. The vocals are often duo, a combination of male and female, it sound pleasant but the lyrics are very simple. At some moments the music reminds me of the first Epidaurus album, also from Germany but rooted in the Seventies.

This is not music with refinement, tension, inventive ideas or awesome skills but if you like early Eloy or more psychedelic pInk Floyd, this is a CD to discover.

www.progwalhalla.com

In This album, Solar Project reach the style pefection, Bettina Wirtz in vocals.. an excelent rol, and the keyboards and acoustic guitar of Roibert Valet gives the very high rate to this album.

Best suggested Pieces: - Thunderstorm part 6 - Force Majeure Part 2 WOW!!! a luxury begin with the Robert Valet Keyborards - Force Majeure 4 the best part of all album (perfect!!)

Influences: Pink Floyd of Roger Waters age, Eulenspygel, Keith Emerson.

SOLAR PROJECT is a German Symphonic Rock band, which was formed in 1988 out of the ashes from a band called SOLAR SYSTEM. Their first album "The Final Solution" was released in 1990 and since then they have recorded three more albums and "Five" is, like the name says, their fifth album. This is the first album I have heard from the band. "Five" is a complex concept album about the four elements and the fifth one. The music is very 70's and 80's sounding with some reminiscences to DJAM KARET and PINK FLOYD. There's a lot of variation, from slowly progressing, dreamy psychedelic, to powerful complex progressive outbursts. I get a somewhat shattered impression, maybe because of the many different musicians and vocalists who contribute to this album. Some of the keyboard sounds feels a little bit dated too. Especially the typical 80's sounding ones! But all in all this is a nice album with many exciting moments.