DREAMLAB

A much more cohesive and aggressive offering than MYTHOS' debut, "Dreamlab" simply won't allow the listener to drift off or float up. The early PINK FLOYD influences are retained, and it's as if DSOTM never happened as far as MYTHOS was concerned, which is entirely a good thing. This was probably retro at the time, but the intervening years have barely furrowed a wrinkle.

New here are Stephan Kaske's flutes that are genetically modified versions of IAN ANDERSON's theoretical marriage to THIJS VAN LEER. Robust at one end and breathily romantic at the other, they are surprisingly melodic and on best display in the brief "Mythalgia" and the more involved and wondrous title cut. Still, the absolute stunner is "Expeditions, with its acoustic guitar and flute buildup, surprisingly purposeful and earnestly blended vocals. and reveling lead guitar in a manner that puts even JANE to shame. Where have you been all my life?!

Lest I give the impression that MYTHOS is all copy and no original, I should add that I believe "Dreamlab" played its role in the coming waves of ambient music and even the German symphonic and space prog that endured to the end of the decade. From the MYTHOS laboratory, this experiment came closest to fulfilling the dreams of investigators and fans alike.