INNER FIRMAMENTS DECAY

I think it is a kind of a problem when you have 100 other albums ready to be reviewed, many of them screaming out for more attention due to upcoming interview researches........ and you simply cannot stop playing one album. Like I am now experiencing with this album.

My guess is also that there will be a lot of twiddling with the mixer buttons on a media player or a stereo rack for those who dare listening to this album. I am even sure perfectly good albums will be returned to the online shops due to this album's pretty special sound. So let me first start to say that there is nothing wrong with your media-player, mobile phone, Ipod or stereo rack. Don't twiddle around with the buttons. This album has the most special sound I have ever heard on a progressive rock album. The only other example I can come up with is Darkthrone's Funeral Moon album and that is a necro-retro black metal album. The sound on Inner Firmaments Decay therefore takes some time to get used to. It is also a very effective soundscape and I am now resigned to receiving a lot of albums in the future with the same type of sound. Inner Firmaments Decay is without any doubts a trendsetting album.

When overcoming the sound, what lays behind this wall is eight brilliant songs of a quality I have not heard from a new album for a very long time. Most of the songs kind of complement each others and floats around in the air. The two exceptions is the final two tracks Until the Sun Begins to Fall and Gratitude. The latter song was also included on the Emkog Records sampler and it made me order this album. If I am not mistaken, Dan Britton has stated that Gratitude is the best song he has ever been involved in. And that comes from a man who has been involved in some of the best albums released during the last five years. But I believe him. Gratitude is a truly stunning song and the best song on this album.

I am now supposed to describe the music here. In fact, I should had done it two paragraphs ago. An untraditional review of an untraditional album, then. Music wise, sends my thoughts in the direction of Kate Bush. Not so much vocals wise, even though Megan Wheatley does a brilliant job here. But it is more like Kate Bush music arrangements I am referring to here. I think fans of Kate Bush will love this album...... well, I am one of her fans. Other music references is laid back jazz and folk music. Yes, jazz is a good start. But symphonic prog can also be added to the mix. The above mentioned final two tracks is clearly symphonic prog and the ten minutes long symphonic prog epic Gratitude has a lot of subtle Genesis vibes. In short, this album is basically melodic based in the jazz, folk and symphonic prog tradition. I guess that should appeal to most of the ProgArchives members. The album also have some good avant-garde vibes which also should appeal to that segment of ProgArchives too. This album is by no means easy listening and it takes a heck of a lot effort to get into.

I will conclude this review with my claim that this is one of the best albums which has graced ProgArchives for the year. The sound on this album is revolutionary and is probably a trend-setter. On the basis of all these factors, I am awarding it five points in the knowledge that it will be a much talked about album in the years to come too.

5 stars