TANGRAM

This would be new member Johannes Schmoelling's first studio album with the band. I must admit i'm torn with my rating here.There is so much I like about it including the guitar and mellotron, but I also get this disatisfied feeling over what sounds like a commercial flavour that they have brought in. I will keep listening to this until I feel i've made the right choice though. 3.5 stars is where I will rate it for now. This album is made up of two side long suites.

"Tangram Set 1" certainly changes and evolves more than the second song.That's one thing that I don't like about it. Moog and other synths lead the way early in this tasteful and laid back section. Keys and a fuller sound arrives after 3 1/2 minutes. Percussion before 5 minutes is brief then we get some guitar 6 minutes in. It settles after 7 1/2 minutes. Cool section. Piano 9 minutes in with what sounds like strummed guitar followed by synths. Percussion 11 minutes in.The tempo picks up after 13 minutes as moog and synths take over. It settles after 17 1/2 minutes. Lots of rhythm to to this first song.

"Tangram Set 2" is quite spacey as synths build. A change 3 1/2 minutes in as we get a beat with other sounds coming and going. Mellotron after 5 minutes. Moog stops before 10 1/2 minutes as it turns spacey. The beat is back a couple of minutes later. A change after 16 minutes as it calms down with mellotron. Synths end it.

The jury is still out but I will return if I feel I need to change the rating.