ATLANTIS

This is something different!! A bluegrass band turned prog when they decided to write their own material? Well, that´s the description you get when you read their biography on PA written by Moris Mateljan. The group´s line up is compromised of banjo, acoustic guitar, double bass, drums and... mellotron! And, believe it or not, it works! Thanks to the strong songwriting and the fine musicanship of all members involved, the music inside is really creative, melodic and quite symphonic (the ones who love mellotron sounds will have a field day here). Although the instrumentation is quite limited (I guess there is also some synthesizer played besides the mellotron), their songs are pleasant and there is not even a hint of bluegrass music per se, at least on this album.

As you all might have guessed, this is a concept album about the hypothetical lost continent. Nothing new, since that theme is/was the source of inspiration for dozens of bands like Eloy (Ocean) or Earth And Fire (Atlantis). However, the approach is quite particular and interesting: lots of mellotron waves and banjo solos, excellent and versatile rhythm section. Vocals are average: Emil Bekkevold (vocals and banjo) has an ok voice and his delivering is almost spoken, which gives it a unique flavor. Not great, nor bad, but unique anyway. Production is excellent. While their limited array of instruments make the CD a little too long for such ambitious undertaking, I enjoyed it much more than I had expected. Oddly enough, my CD has the Atlantis Suite played twice: one divided in 5 parts, and the other played as a whole piece, but they are the same. I´m still wondering why they did it (a 48 minute CD would be much more fitting).

Rating: that´s very difficult album to rate. The music is surely good and their approach is at least bold and creative. I guess I´ll have to listen to their other CDs to have a bigger picture of their overall work and possibilities. Here that is limited only by the few instruments used. So 3.5 stars is the more fitting.

Recommended to anyone who wants to listen to something different, but not too spaced out or freaky.