GREEN MARS

Attention! Mental overload to be feared here! Had not known anything about this band from the United Kingdom when I came in touch with that album. But it's already the second one that conceptually is drawing on the probably known Mars trilogy. Originally delivered by Sci-Fi author Kim Stanley Robinson, and dealing with the survival of some idealistic Mars colonists. All in all this proves again that such a context set into music not automatically will lead into a generic improvisational space rock approach. Generally speaking there's a vibrant neo prog, symphonic and art rock blend in place actually. Where the predecessor bears a playing time of round about one hour, sheer exaggeration, they now have more than doubled it three years later. Enhanced by some more guests the line up appears to be the same.

Mission impossible? Which of these 17 songs should be emphasized here and now? Okay, after a proper half an hour warmup let's take the funky Small Boy In The Big City which is flowing with so much elegance basically. A couple of twists and turns embedded though anyhow, as one would expect from a progressive rock approach of course. Fantastic composition! Male (Mike Waters) and female (Julie Kvaerndrup, Hannah Bridge), partially solo, partially coupled, concerning the lead vocals it's all arranged with charme and variability. State Of The Art shines with extraordinary guitar presence. And then the story author himself contributes the narration on Ecotage. Man! With the extended Soletta they finally are sending off a complete fireworks towards the end of the album. 'Green Mars' proves that the VIRIDITAS inspiration isn't running out, nowhere near. This one should be part of every well sorted prog rock collection in consequence, regardless of the fact that the mandatory successor entitled 'Blue Mars' will appear sooner or later. 4.5 stars in upgrade waiting position. Simply a must.