WHERE IDEAL AND DENIAL COLLIDE

9/10

I get overly excited when I find a new band that really jives with me. I was contacted about the debut Oddleaf album recently, and I have fallen head over heels for this record. It's called Where Ideal and Denial Collide, and it releases October 11th.

Oddleaf hail from France. I was taken immediately by their fantastic cover art and overall sense of production value, which often isn't the case with debut albums. The lineup here is Carina Taurer on composition, keys, and backing vocals; Adeline Gurtner on vocals; Olivier Orlando on bass and guitar; Mathieu Rossi on flute; and Clément Curaudeau on drums.

Here's why I like this band so much. They have something of a retro progressive rock sound, but instead of sounding like Yes or Genesis, they take inspiration from some of the unsung heroes of the genre, such as Renaissance and Camel. Their music is, I daresay, a witchy and folk-leaning style of prog rock with hints of Big Big Train's pastoral side, while also sounding quite infectious and dark along the lines of Mostly Autumn and early White Willow.

There's just something about the mysterious shadows at play in this album that grabs hold of me. I love how bright and crystal-clear the vocals are, and how some songs come off as quirky, interesting, and even a bit strange. You will hear lots of flute, which is a major highlight for me, plus Mellotron and Hammond organ.

It isn't just these nostalgic sounds that make their music great. The songwriting is simply superb and whimsical in all the best ways. Honestly, if I were to compare them to a modern band, it would be Cuba's Anima Mundi. In fact, Carina's keyboard style has all the same flare and drama of Virginia Peraza's, who happens to be one of my favorite keyboardists. The music, then, is mystical, colorful, and imaginative, and the songwriting really sells those aspects.

The album is around 47 minutes long, but it feels shorter, honestly. This album flows by in such character and atmosphere that you'll want to put it on again immediately. There are six tracks, two of which are instrumental and transitional in style, but they are incredibly effective. The opener "The Eternal Tree" is only 2 minutes long, but in those precious seconds, we are introduced to the wonder and whimsy of the band, and also a sense of anticipation and cinema. It's amazing.

The next song is "Life", a piece with potent synth at its core, and with plenty of flute and keyboard madness to satisfy any prog head. I love how it transitions between delicate, ambient portions and fabulous chaos. The single comes next, called "Ethereal Melodies", and it is an instant favorite. The vocal lines are incredibly warm and infectious, evoking Karen Carpenter at times, and the excellent guitar solo near the end really gets things moving.

The second half of the album is even better. "Back in Time" is a 14-minute monster with some fantastic instrumental portions and even some funky grooves that always put a smile on my face. I should note that the flute performance on this song is particularly amazing. "Prelude" is next, being a one-minute piece that is basically synth ambience, and I love the aura it brings. The closer "Coexistence, Part 1" is probably my favorite on the album. This piece is about 11 minutes long, and it packs in so many shadows and mysteries into that runtime. I love the piano and the bold, intense synth work in the second part (really reminding me of Anima Mundi). The song, like the album, has constant celestial qualities that are truly beautiful.

Oddleaf should make a big splash with their debut, if there is any justice in the world. Where Ideal and Denial Collide is staggeringly gorgeous at times and quirky and nostalgic in others; it feels masterfully sewn together with excellent lyrics and introspective melodies. Their inspirations are many, but their sound is their own, and I think this first offering will prove to be memorable for me.

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