CONUNDRUM

A band that I discovered because of Methexis' Nikitas Kissonas' participation on their first three albums has now evolved under the maturing and intrepid stylized vision of the creative force that is founder Jargon Kosmidis. Many of you might remember Jargon's impressive and highly-acclaimed 2020 solo release, The Fading Thought. Fans of theatric prog combining the sounds and styles of QUEEN, MEAT LOAF, and MATTHEW PARMENTER and PETER HAMMILL will definitely enjoy this.

1. "Falling" (2:50) heavy and theatric in a bombastic PETER HAMMILL way. Very impressive. (9/10)

2. "In Pieces (4:59) opens like the opening of EMINEM's "Lose Yourself" before changing chords and turning into a BEATLE's like collaboration with Brian Wilson or the boys from the Bay City Rollers, Pilot, and early ALAN PARSONS PROJECT, finishing with a choir-led bombast that is much more like this latter reference than the former. (8.667/10)

3. "Intruders" (5:30) feels like a 21st Century realization of a Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) collaboration with MEAT LOAF's Jim Steinman (especially in the second half). The "I don't exist" part, of course, is more reminiscent of M. HAMMILL, but, it's but a brief leitmotif. Interesting. (8.667/10)

4. "The Children of Water" (5:42) a truly virtuosic vocal performance from Jargon--on the theatric and emotional level of the work of That Joe Payne. Amazing! Too bad for the rather generic chorus. (8.75/10)

5. "Conundrum" (6:32) a klezmer-styled instrumental conveying a cabaret-like music in which the instrumentalists are given full license to express themselves as fully and virtuosically as M. Jargon himself. What results is, to my ears, a kind of interesting and impressive blend of ELP, Symphony X, and Mr. Bungle. Impressive! (9/10)

6. "The Watcher" (9:03) Wow! This one sounds so much like a MATTHEW PARMENTER (Discipline) piece! Down to the keys and definitely in the vocal performance (and recording effects), the Discipline-like territory continues to express Jargon's totally au courant biting commentary/critique of the cyber age. Then, at 6:56 everything smooths out for a pretty, dreamy passage with choir- "Ooo's" and "aaah's"It's actually a very pretty song, too! I really like this song a lot-- on many levels, from many aspects! (18/20)

7. "Neon Eye Cage" (9:30) opening as a very pretty stage-crafted song (as if he should be on stage in front of a live audience in a Broadway theater). After 90 seconds, the full band bursts into rock format but then a minute later they take a left turn into some kind of Meat Loaf-like territory. (17.667/20)

8. "Fall from Grace" (5:53) Brilliant, this: adjacent to the cyber age commentary song is a song that opens with nature sounds and the sound of children playing outside. This sad song about distance between two people in relationship (and seemingly inevitable breakup) seems perfectly placed to express the consequences of our screen- and self- absorbed world and the challenges it places on interpersonal communication. I'm not sure the instrumental passage in the fourth minute was really necessary--the song was so powerful just in its tragic verbal message--but it's a nice reminder that this is, in fact, a prog album. Definitely a top three song for me. (I am, once again, completely under the spell of Jargon.) (9.25/10)

Total Time 49:59

This is an album of style, theatrics, and vocal performance, not so steeped in complex "proggy" musical constructs as it is in musical creations intended to support and carry forward a vocal idea. Jargon is a very creative and expressive singer-songwriter.

B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of eclectic and theatric music--definitely an excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection!