NIGHT

Gazpacho: A rather bizarre alternative progressive rock band. Taking heavy influence from Radiohead, Coldplay and various alternative rock bands, this Norway-based collective has always looked to trade instrumental prowess for an emphasis on melodies and ambience. All across their discography, their sound has remained pretty much the same, but it's only expected that some works are going to be more brilliant than others, and in this review we're talking about the absolute best, Night.

Upon first glance, Night has Gazpacho venture into uncharted territories: Long, majestic songs clocking over 13 minutes, transitions between tracks and a single cohesive topic. Think of the album as one song segmented for easier listening than a collection of tracks. The album opens up with the long, hypnotizing Dream Of Stone, a colossal 17 minute song featuring multiple motifs that will be reprised later in the album as well as the introduction of the album's sound to the listener. Guitar, drum and bass work is utilized in unison, working together to relax the listener into a cold, vast landscape. Meanwhile, the vocals provide melodies and verses for the listener to cling on to, stopping the track from being too abstract. As an opener, it does a fantastic job at submerging the listener into the Lofi, tranquil vibe of the record. The song transitions into Chequered Light Buildings, a track mostly there to serve as a more digestible song as well as a bridge between two epics, with a slightly folkier sound to smooth the transition into the next track.

Upside Down is what I would consider the first juggernaut of the album quality-wise. This song trades the length of Dream Of Stone for a more concise, nearly ten minutes long adventure. Soaring between the repetitive hypnotizing beats of Dream Of Stone, and folkier use of guitar and flute, not a second feels wasted. The song closes with a sole flute and keyboard, and the aura it creates is simply indescribable. Coming after this serene track comes Valerie's Friend, which has a purpose similar to Chequered Light Buildings: Working as a bridge and transition between epics. With that said, however, I have to give the edge to Valerie's Friend in terms of quality since it has a more defined and distinguishable personality, while being able to create a transition between Upside Down and the closer without sacrificing itself too much.

This adventure all leads to the closer, and the single best Gazpacho song to date: Massive Illusion, The best way to describe this track is "unbelievably good". Massive Illusion ties the whole concept up, bringing up motifs from before with its own twists to keep it fresh. All while slowly building up towards a melancholic, emotional ending where each band member does its part in climaxing the album. But perhaps my favorite part of this song is what comes after this section. One could expect that the band would close the record loudly since the album was relatively tranquil the whole way through, but right at the last moment, a violin-piano duet takes the bombastic music away from the listener and makes it focus on a nostalgic, almost saddening play between two instruments. This segment is the only part that is in a different BPM to the rest of the album, further increasing its uniqueness and impact on the album. Once this duet is done, we are accompanied by fading city ambient noises until the album ends.

While it's true that Gazpacho may have overplayed their style a little, and newer records appear to be taking inspiration and ideas from their previous albums, Night was the one that started it all. While their first three were enjoyable, it was in Night where they would become Gazpacho. I personally don't see flaws in this album, it flows seamlessly from start to finish without feeling forced or fake, but with emotion and passion. One of the best Alternative Rock/Crossover Prog albums one could own. Very well deserving of five stars.

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