TERRA SERRANUM

With ''Pacific coast highway'' Lands End came to the attention of Cyclops, which signed the band for their next albums.The bulk of their second work was recorded at the Semprini Studios in Los Angeles, where the band settled down between January and April 1995, while a few parts and the final mix took place at the Pacific Coast Studio in Long Beach.Titled ''Terra serranum'', Lands End's sophomore album was released at the fall of the summer 95'.

The debut of the band was really great, but this one deserves the highest of praises for being an awesome amalagam of complex orchestrations, refined melodies, lush sounds and vintage echoes, actually presented in a style between dramatic Neo Prog ala COLLAGE and lyrical Space Rock in the vein of PINK FLOYD.The biggest bet for the band was again the creation of three epic pieces, all were over 12 minutes long, and these tracks only proove how talented this group was.Soaring synthesizers, energetic guitars, spacious lines and laid-back soundscapes are blended in a perfect mixture, which offers a good bunch of changing climates.And, yeah, there is also some fantastic Mellotron parts in them.They avoid the trap of being too complicated for nothing or even becoming rich in sounds and sights in an excessive exhibition of talent, instead the four musicians try to focus on a modern, symphonic type of rock with a strong synth-based spaceness and the result is a seminar for well-crafted compositions.Some big symphonic sounds in the process, some edgy guitar plays and the constant display of synth waves come close to what bands like THE BODY or THIRD QUARDANT were attempting to do in early-80's.But these Americans pushed the whole thing a bit further.They sound like if PINK FLOYD really wanted to go symphonic and borrow some of the GENESIS inspirations.Really impressive music and composing demonstration.

One of the highlights of the year.Any band, which wants to go Prog and structure its sound around the FLOYD-ian principles should listen to this work.Original, imaginative, dreamy, atmospheric, intricate music, which deserves a high recommendation.