NATURAL SELECTION

What I liked the most with "Lands End" were their long compositions, the great atmosphere which radiates out of them and the so special feeling one can get while listening to their music.

And this is exactly what one will get again with "Natural Selection".

I just felt in love with the great "From the Ruins of a Fallen Empire". Fully Floydian, extremely melodic vocals, great and Gilmour- esque guitar flavours. It is an excellent and emotional song. And the whole of this album will spread out the same feeling.

The second long number (10+ minutes) "Love through the Winter and Blood in the Spring" has this sweet character of their own. No shouts, no hardness. Pure passionate music. And I really like this. The keys played in this song will of course remind you "Floyd" again (even the drumming sometimes sounds as the one that can be heard during "Time") but this fact doesn't bother me.

Smooth vocals are another TM from this band. Maybe that some of you might find them a bit monochord but they fit perfectly the music. The short "An Emptiness that's never Filled" (six minutes "only") is a good illustration of this. Another great guitar solo is highlighting this good track.

"My Home" is the harder number of this very good album. The finale is a pure marvel : strong beat and wonderful melody. Another good song. But so far, this album is truly impressive.

If ever you are keen on long compositions (like myself), the closing number "Natural Selection" is probably apt to draw your attention. It is a bit long to kick off but the quiet mood of the first movement IS flesh and bones from "Lands End". Pleasant Spanish acoustic guitar for this ambient part.

The crescendo structure of the third movement breaks this feeling. A long and fascinating build up which leads to a fully harmonious and beautiful guitar solo. Background keys are sustaining and the rhythm catches up rather comfortably.

This lengthy and beautiful track evolves into a mix of purely symphonic and spacey music which certainly deserves your attention. I'm glad to see that this album has been reviewed a little more than their other works. You should really check out this good band and start either with "Natural Selection" or their debut album "Pacific Coast Highway".

These thirty minutes aren't boring at all. They are diverse, well played and should transport any "Floyd" fan into another galaxy. This aspect being maybe too present for some purists and the most orthodox of the prog fans. This is maybe the reason why I do not rate this album with five stars : personality of the work could have been higher (just listen to the finale of "The Theory And Practice Of Hell" and its fully "DSOTM" sounds.

The pessimistically titled "Awaiting Extinction" being the most upbeat section. An excellent fireworks to close this great epic which is mostly instrumental.

A super long album with super music. Four stars.

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