ADOPT A MONKEY

Another one of these recent Icelandic entries, this quartet was formed in late-2008 in Reykjavik by brothers Isak Orn Gudmundsson (guitar) and Ingimundur Gudmundsson (keyboards) and drummer Andri Porhallson, while searching for a musically progressive direction (all played in a Blues Rock band), when they recruited bassist Zakarias Herman Gunnarsson.The following year they came up with the debut album ''Adopt a monkey'' on the local Brak Hljomplotur label.

The band cites Yes, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Giraffes and The Battles as main sources of inspiration and all facts indicate to a sound close to the Classic Prog Rock lines.Basically things are so, it's just that Caterpillarmen sometimes show some emphasis on the looser side of Prog Rock, in that sense their music appears to have a slight jazzy feel, but the basic leading forces are all those vintage references, adding some strong psychedelic essence in the process.Hammond organ is ised in heavy proportions, vocals come mostly in a sweet/sarcastic British/Canterbury style and guitars/bass are certainly having a powerul KING CRIMSON vibe with complex tricks and the throbbing, monster bass sound often covering the whole band.Their style is very quirky with unusual structures and tempo variations, while the more atmospheric passages are definitely pretty dark with an ANEKDOTEN-like similarity.Long instrumental segments with a jamming approach, experimental echoes and pounding work on guitar and organ, propelled by the love for odd time signatures and neurotic executions.Vocals actually are used only sporadically, the focus here is on intense, 70's-flavored prog instrumentals with discreet jazzy and Fusion influences and a slightly heavier sound than the average prog fan is used to.

Would even call this Retro Prog at some point, but the production is pretty modern and the overall feeling comes closer to Anekdoten than 70's-King Crimson.Nonetheless this is a pretty cool work of complicated prog tricks with a nostalgic aura, warmly recommended indeed.