PICTURES FROM CYCLUS 7

A collaboration with poet Bo Lillesöe, Ache's third album PICTURES FROM CYCLUS 7 is a concept album which seems to attempt to recap current history with hypothetical future events. Pink Floyd's DARK SIDE OF THE MOON is a fairly obvious influence.

The revamped Ache is now fronted by two lead vocalists: Stig Kreutzfeldt and Johnnie Gellett. Both have understated, low-key singing voices. At times, this works against them, as on the overture-like introduction, where their chirpy, sing-songy voices seem rather at-odds with the dark subject matter. Conversely, some of the melodrama present in the material (e.g.: the faintly ludicrous "Still hungry (Vampyre song)") pushes this into Spinal Tap mode at times.

Don't expect great complexity and you won't be disappointed. Andante 4/4 rhythms make up the vast bulk of the material. Keysman Peter Mellin does a fine job on organ and piano mostly, but adding some subtle synthesizer touches here and there too. Finn Olafsson's guitarwork is not-Gilmour-unlike. More about moods than blaring displays of musicianship, some of the tunes establish moods brilliantly. "Roses (Registering)" and "Our Lives" are high points.