ZA WITRAżEM

In 2003 polish neo prog band Anamor released their debut CD Imaginacje. And I remembered that how good it was, for it was a strong album, where the group proved they already had their own personality. However, nothing came after that for about 15 years, which made me think theirs was one of those one off bands that delivered a prog gem and then it was gone. Fortunately I got the news that they were back in 2018 with new material. And after got a copy of Za Witrazem I´m glad to say they not only kept their original line up almost complete (only Tomasz Rychlicki, who played 12 string acoustic guitar on their first release and was replaced by a second keyboards player, Maciej Karczewski), but also maintained the high quality of their compositions and performances. In fact, it sounds like a continuation of the debut in many aspects. It could have been delivered in 2004 and it would fit perfectly them. Thank god good music does not age!

Like Imaginacje, Za Waitrazem is everything a neo prog fan would expect: great guitar solos and licks, dreamy keys, a tight rhythm section and passionate vocals. Marta Głowacka has lost nothing of her powerful voice and charisma, surely being the star here, with her unique deliver. Marek Misiak is also in great form and his guitar lines are both familiar and original. The style they adopted is very laid back and melodic, reminding me of their polish colleagues of Quidam and Albion, although still quite different. The tracklist if fantastic, and the CD is a joy to listen to from start to finish, making this comeback more than just a worthy effort. There is no real highlight on this album, since the quality of the songs are all very high. Production is also top notch.

Conclusion: I found that this album demands a little getting used to, exactly like I felt with Imaginacje. But once you get it, it´s hard not to press the repeat button again and again. Maybe it is too mellow and not challenging enough for some, but for me it is simply what I was waiting for for a long time. If you like neo prog, or just great melodic progressive music, you can´t miss this one. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4,5 stars.