FORGIVING EDEN

"Forgiving Eden" is a monster album, an example of how real is the possibility to create great epic albums in the progressive genre 20-odd years after the end of the 70s. The idea of a 43 minute suite is very challenging concerning structure and composition, and A Triggering Myth has managed to be extremely successful at it: in fact, excepting for Part I, the other divisions do not define the whole musical sequence at all, making each Part's closing passage work simultaneously as a soft preparation for the next Part. "Forgiving Eden" is, most of all, a work of beauty and elegance, with the mystic forces of extravagance getting into play in order to weave that beauty in a different way, experimental yet not obtuse, uneasy yet romantically captivating, cerebral yet emotionally driven. A Triggering Myth has genuinely grown in geometrical proportion from their very first album: "Forgiving Eden" is the manifestation of the maturity of Rick Eddy and Tim Drumheller as both creators and performers, bringing the ATM stance to the top of its pursuit for complexity and dynamics. The fluid combination of Happy the Man, standard symphonic, Canterbury, Gentle Giantish counterpoints and RIO-friendly textures reaches a zenith of exuberance and elegance, displaying an undisputed beauty that never gets really accessible nor vulgar. With the participation of guitarist Scott McGill and drummer Vic Stevens, the final arrangements manage to keep track of the potential energy stated by the basic compositional ideas. McGill provides lots of augmentations for the melodic developments and harmonic meanders, while Stevens sets a versatile foundation for the ever changing moods, tempos and atmospheres. The 3+ minutes of Part 1 are based on a jazzy ambience led by piano, with delicately weird adornments stated by the synth and the guitar. With the sound of a host of reciting voices, the mood gets a bit weirder still before the arrival of Part II, a section that starts on a very energetic mode before landing on an eerie display of orchestral allusions. This aura of soaring sonorities may remind the listener of However. With the 7 minute long Part III, the band gets focused on academic sources, generating what is arguably the most pompous section of this suite. The endless tangling of half-elaborated melodies feels powerful in its demanding structure, natural in its deconstructive logic. Part IV bears a similar mood, although the delicacy is a tad stronger and the bizarre vibe is a tad lesser. Together, Parts III & IV make the most symphonic moments in the suite. The pairing of Parts V & VI make my favorite portion of the album, with the extroverted moments stating a hybrid of Return to Forever and classic Holdsworth, and the slower passages showing strong influences from Happy the Man with an extra dose of mystery. As usual, the melodic motifs and harmonic developments go on meandering with spotless craft. Part VI includes a few quotations from Part I's main motif. Later on, Part VII reprises a few passages from other Parts, while including new soft ones that almost match the polished extravagance comprised in the most ethereal passages of Parts IV, V & IV. When Part VII approaches the end, a playful motif brings memories of Grieg in a progressive context. Part VIII closes the suite, including a reprise of the beautiful piano motif that had appeared at the end of Part IV. In conclusion, "Forgiving Eden" is a total prog pleasure, a masterpiece of our times, full of infinite nuances that seem to emerge from nowhere after each new listen. This album won't reveal all its beauty with the first few listens, but indeed it will reveal its magical appeal, and like it happened to me, it won't be too long before you consider it a must for any good prog rock collection.