Just got "Say So" by this band, and after listening to the whole album ... the only thing I can say is ... INSANE.

It's hard to define it, in any terms, as it comes off as Bertold Brecht on some serious acid mixed with some metal riffs, but in the end, the vocals are amazing and insane at the same time. I can not make up my mind if this is Kate Bush on a bad day, or a new West End production done by Peter Brook with shock values that rip right through your ideas of what something or other might be. 

I can imagine that this material will be extremely difficult to do live, and will not sound as good, but this album is down right insane, and amazing at the same time.

As a "progressive" effort, it would fit, but it would create a new area? It would be called ... "no description" because no one can agree on anything about it! I'll stick with Bertold Brecht on good acid! It makes Burroughs come off like cheap writing!

Well, we have put it in crossover here because that's the best we could do. But it's very diverse and does defy easy description indeed (a good sign, if you ask me).  Whilst Say So was good, it was a touch disappointing after Shiny Eyed Babies so I would highly recommend that album too.  As for the live output, I will wait to pass judgment until the band has truly arrived (they are still very young and raw) but from what I heard (a) the sheer dynamics of the recordings seemed to take a beating live which is understandable and (b) Courtney Swain rather has her hands full trying to both play complex material on the keyboard AND sing very demanding vocal lines at one and the same time.  I expect things will improve on both fronts with experience. 

Stunning is what I thought when I first heard it, but I liked more, the fact that it was not "predictable" and the material was out there, and plain open ... which to me, is the mark of a very good piece of work. It invokes a reaction, and to me, that is a very good thing.

While listening, I did hope that this translates well to the stage. The vocal style, is all over the place, and not just "plain singing", and this is the part I would not want to miss on a live show ... it is very well used and mixed with the music to a very well defined extent. It is extremely theatrical in its application, which gives the music an outstanding quality.

I agree. They are one of those progressive bands who aren't really typical prog(not retro prog so in a way they represent more of a literal kind of progressive). I agree with the term art rock being used here. Moetar are kind of like that too if anyone knows who they are. The emphasis seems to be on songs but the instrumentation and maybe arrangements aren't typical. 

Moetar are the band they remind me most of, strong female vocalist, pop style songs but with an edgy quirkiness and some avant leanings.

And they're really good. What else do you need?

omg already? I am excited for this.

 

There is no such thing.