SUMMEREVE

Hostsonaten has crafted an immensely gorgeous album with Summereve. It is a splendid showcase of compositional magic and inspiring performances. The exceptions are the sixth and seventh pieces, where it seems the band ran out of creative ideas, and opted for frivolousness instead. However, there are a myriad of stellar passages, often one pearl after another, strung together by the proper necklace of elegant composition.

'Seasons's Overture' Dense atmospheric textures wrap around a light synthesizer lead before percussion drives the music forward. Once all the instruments appear, it is a striking and wondrous moment, with uplifting guitar and keyboards. No instrument gets in the way of anything else; each has its place in complementing the other, be it complementary electric guitar, airy flute, the steady bass, drums that let the rest of the music breathe, or that soothing organ and synthesizer passage. This instrumental symphonic masterpiece weaves in and out of various time signatures and musical colors, concluding in a most grandiose manner.

'Glares of Light' Hostsonaten scales back the pomp but not the beauty, offering gentle piano and sweet violin. The eventual addition of organ and a rhythm section do not disrupt the splendor of this stirring piece. It eases into a bittersweet passage toward the end.

'Evening Dance' Changing styles, this piece opens with a moderately-paced, unorthodox acoustic guitar chord progression before launching into a hard rock passage, and then a calm flute moment. All of these segments are transient, as the main piece involves a bass groove under various lead instruments, including piano, flute, and violin.

'On the Sea' As the title suggests, the fourth piece, with its implied major seventh chords, brings to mind drifting alone on an expansive blue ocean. With its soaring lead guitar, which seems to borrow from Pink Floyd's 'Time,' I am reminded of David Gilmour and his similarly titled album, On an Island.

'Under Stars' Twelve-string guitar shifts between peaceful and menacing chords. Overall, this terse opus is a shimmering, tranquil moment.

'Blackmountains' Following a steady segment of hand percussion and wayward synthesizer, a flute leads into sprightly acoustic guitar and violin trading phrases. This work is not as well structured as the others, remaining rather erratic.

'Prelude of an Elegy' A straightforward bass juts in and out over a stable rhythm. It does not move me much, although the Mellotron and electric guitar is an excellent, if somehow unoriginal moment.

'Edge of Summer' Hostsonaten chooses to end their impressive album with one final, rousing anthem that even seems to be saying 'Farewell.' The concluding guitar solo is one of the best performances on the album, although there are plenty of jewels throughout.