YEAR ZERO

Galahad

Neo-Prog

3.57 | 150 ratings

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ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

This band hasn't been a fave of mine but they have produced a couple of good albums (even if "Following Ghosts" was a disaster to my ears).

This album is more symphonic than usual and the band is trying some successful experimentations. Nothing from the other world but at least they showed a concern for more complex stuff (compared to their standards).

"Year Zero" holds few great songs IMO. The best moment is a great guitar solo during "Ever The Optimist". And I quite dislike the vocals during the AOR-ish "Haunted". What happened to Stuart Nicholson?

The most complex song of the whole is "Democracy". Space-rock oriented intro for what should be the highlight. But I have to say that these hard-rocking-electro beats are quite unbearable to me. Just as the vocals. This song is a collage of several parts which doesn't have anything in common.

And even if there are some fine keyboards moments at half time (let's speak in terms of football since it is the Champions League final tonight) the remaining parts of this track are going nowhere (from Chinese sounds to electro pop).

In such a desert, the instrumental "Baroque & Roll Dementia" almost sounds as a relief. But it is immediately followed by a poor "Deeper Understanding" during which Stuart almost wants to sound as Jon Anderson. Weak.

This album is absolutely not consistent. A musical patchwork: from jazz ("The Jazz Sui�te") to very good neo-prog ("Take A Deep Breathe Breath."). The problem with the latter is that it only lasts for ninety-five seconds. It is my fave here.together with the second leg of Hindsight 2. The album ends up on a bombastic and fine Deceptive Vistas / Postscript - Perspective.

Year Zero" is not a great album. Not such a blunder as "Ghosts" but nothing truly memorable. Two stars.

ZowieZiggy | 2/5 | 2008-5-21

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