CALIGO

But Musical Murk Muddied Things

Germany's BREEZE, a self-described 'symphonic progressive rock trio', has released their sixth full-length album, "Caligo". What or who is Caligo? Here's one definition I found: "English words for caligo include darkness, mist, dark, fog, gloom, vapour, vapor, mental fogginess, obtuseness and distressful situation."

And another: "Caligo is the Greek Primordial Goddess of the Void, the Abyss and Darkness who has some relation with Khaos."

And Who is BREEZE?

"A German rock outfit BREEZE were founded in Hannover by two promising players Hansi ARNOLD (drums, voices) and Ottfried MIETZKE (guitars, bass, keyboards) in 2000, as a recording project at first." They've had several members in and out, most recently vocalist Lea DIEKMAN. (Thus, 'trio').

So, NOT rookies, nor beginners, nor wet behind their ears.

Maybe a Concept Album?

Not sure. Lyrics were not readily available, and I'm not usually of a mood to track these down. It seems to me if a band uses lyrics, they must have some importance; therefore, how is it that often one can hardly find them?

"Caligo" is Really Long

Well, total playing time is 61 minutes and change. It may well seem longer though, because listening to this album is like wading through a swampy, soupy mush of murk. BREEZE needs an assertive producer. To these ears, giving this album a hearing is exhausting and irritating.

There MAY be some great music being made here, but it's pretty hard to tell. The keyboards and orchestrations are usually uppermost in the mix, and sometimes the (probably pretty good) voices of Lea and Hansi were nearly buried. The guitar tones, especially the progressive metal/heavy metal powerchords and distorted lead guitar tones were messy and undisciplined.

Furthermore

I thought the compositions were meandering and sometimes needlessly drawn out. It seemed to me that things could have been tautened and tightened up. I heard repetitious lines and silly noodling back-and-forth between synthesized strings and guitars.

Hansi's drumming seemed fine, although I think drummers might have wanted to take time to get the sounds differentiated, fuller, and crisper than what to me sounded trebly and flat.

Was that an actual bass guitar? I sort of doubt it, but maybe. It too needed clarifying and deepening. It became oddly relieving when most of the murky keyboard and guitar mush would drop out, and cleaner, non-distorted guitar picking and arpeggios could be heard. Thus the least objectionable track was "Stargazer"; I think it opens with acoustic guitar, and there are some nice acoustic piano passages too.

"Caligo"

So "Caligo" may be apropos after all: "...darkness, mist, dark, fog, gloom, vapor, mental fogginess, obtuseness and distressful" sort of sum up my experience listening to this. I think there might be good musicianship here, just not good taste in sound and arrangement- thus, the need for an assertive producer to help sort things out.

My Rating

Poor. Only for completionists. (Also posted with pix and links in my blog "Progressive Rock Fanatics" at https://wordpress.com/view/progressiverockfanatics.wordpress.com)

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