I AM A STRANGER IN THE EARTH

Second, the album art: instead of an alien, as the album title may suggest, an ice age man comes to a city through a portal. This may help to understand the concept. I know that speaking of concept on instrumental albums may sound strange, but music is emotional and when the composer takes inspiration from a concept, this is an added layer.

Third, more important: the music.

I admit that I've taken very long before attempting a review. The album is not challenging, but requires attention and time before clicking. A hint: take the track title in mind while listening.

Now let's start the review.

The title track is not just an intro. The bass of the guest Ruslan Sobonin is the rhythmic element on a base made by a good fusion of keys and guitar. Leonid Perevalov's clarinet is barely perceivable but quite fundamental, unless my ears are wrong and it's a keyboard.

"For The Sun Of Righteousness" is calm and maybe newagey in the beginning, with the strings played by Ksenia Vaganova, another guest, setting a classical mood. Later it becomes a little darker. It sets the mood for the next track: "On a Factory of Broken Dreams". In the beginning, in background you can hear the last notes of the previous one. A three chords progression in crescendo after 1 minute and half is turned into something more "Crimsonian" that's introduced by drums. When bass and drums stop the initial progression is back but in a dreamy way. The track title is "On a Factory of Broken Dreams". It gives the idea. The track proceeds on a 2 chords progression. Daily Doug would say 1->3 then there's a remind to the previous track.

Again three chords, but it's the guitar this time, with some background vocals. It's "Steps. Loneliness in the CrowD". Imagine a stranger walking down a crowded street in a city night. This is what this music makes me think to. A bluesy guitar/keys duo to which later bass clarinet is added. Steps and rain close it.

"Something HappeneD to My Heart". A sad music reminding of the atmospheres of the Ucrainian band Yojo. The depressing view of a smoky city in the winter for the second longest track of the album. "Blot Out all Mine Iniquities" has a keyboard and church organ intro of the kind that remains impressed in the mind. In the same time, it's a very complex track full of different things and evolves into the following jazzy track "Loss of Watchfulness". Also this changes suddenly into something different.

"Uphold Me with Thy Free Spirit" an initial sequence of 8 notes then bass and guitar, then voices (or keyboard's ooh?) create something between Mike Oldfield and Peter Bardens. three intense minutes. It's a pity that this theme hasn't evolved into a long suite.

"In Forest. А Matter of ChoicE" is built around four bass notes. Probably the easiest and catchy track. I underline the guitar work: essential, never selfish, Just the needed notes. It reminds me to Camel. The ending forest sounds lead to "Strange Area. Something's Wrong Here". Now it's time for a dark ambient and strange keyboard sounds, with different things going on. It really gives the idea of the track title. Cinematic.

"Summer Haze. Lazy Dreams" emerges from the darkness of the previous track. Even with major and "7+" chords it gives me the idea of a wood in a mountain environment. The following "Night Flight. Еxperience of LevitatioN" has more rhythm, it's a proper rock track. Very enjoyable. It ends slowing down and becoming more atmospheric.

"X-Mas Child. Innocence and ExperiencE": by coincidence I'm writing this review on the X-Mas day. A nice guitar harping with soft drums and keyboard repeating a short theme. Children voices, bells sounds. I don't know how it fits in the album's concept. The last 30 seconds make me think to Vangelis.

Now the ending track. A female voice starts but soon leaves the scene. A bluesy guitar alternates with dreamy sounds, between newage and Pink Floyd.

As I have written initially, this album requires time and attention. Relistening to it while I was writing, taking the time to analyze every single track has transformed my listening experience, while I have to admit that initially I struggled to get into it.

An excellent album, very well played, arranged and produced if you have enough patience and time to dedicate to it.

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