Admittedly, the first album under the name Galaspere 347 completely passed me by so I can go into this experience with a blank mind. Just to be clear, we are talking about the second album of the band Galasphere 347 called The Syntax Of Things. If I may go by the supplied information, we are presented with an Anglo-Scandinavian form of prog rock and that sounds as if it could be something interessting. And when I read the names that cooperate, I got even more enthusiastic. The core of the band is formed by Stephen James Bennett (vocals, guitars, keyboards and a whole bunch of other instruments), Ketil Vestrum Einarsen (flute and programming) and Mattias Olsson (drums). Jacob Holm-Lupo, who was quite prominently present on the first album, can now only be heard sporadically on bass guitar and staccato guitar and has thus become a kind of guest musician. He is not alone in this because we also hear Bjorn Riis on guitar, John Jowitt on bass guitar, Myke Clifford on saxophone and Pete Smith on bass guitar and bass pedals. So in terms of musicians, the term Anglo-Scandinavian is more than justified. Before I go to the music I have to say that I don't find the cover inviting at all, a boring photo of the entrance to a swimming pool, that's it. Well, we get seven tracks and when I look at the length of the tracks I expect the occasional fireworks. Is that really the case? Sometimes it is, but I must immediately confess that Bennett's voice does not grab me, it lacks expressiveness and character, rather flat. Instrumentally it is much better and there is plenty to enjoy without it becoming overly spectacular. In terms of sound, it is quite clear that they wanted to create a retro atmosphere and it is explicitly stated that no form of AI was used in the making of this album. The lyrics are about a feeling of loss of identity, making choices, and especially nostalgia, the longing for better times. Nothing shocking and that complies with the vocal performance, sometimes the voice is put in the mix rather strangely and that also applies to the drums. These sometimes sound really banging but with a dull sound while Olsson is a very good musician and plays very skilfully. After a rather hectic beginning, Hiraeth Part 1, it is immediately clear that a lot of different keys are used, including of course the Mellotron. Yet there is also a lot of room for the sometimes beautiful but sometimes penetrating sound that Vestrum Einarsen gets out of his flute(s) and we hear that in the end of Life As An Architect where he goes quite wild. Where Bennett's guitar playing is regularly distorted by the use of a Gizmotron, we could know from 10CC, and you have to love that so to speak, Riis' heavenly guitar playing is of course a very welcome addition. He gets to play his characteristic solos in a number of songs and that really lifts the album up. If you like busy, and sometimes chaotic, saxophone playing, then Clifford's parts will probably appeal to you, I have some issues with it. Looking for references, we have to go back many years because it is mainly the sound of the seventies and eighties that have been used as inspiration, with an electronic slant that is. You can hear Genesis pass by (Duke era) but also Tangerine Dream. A ballad like Nighthawks almost falls into the singer/songwriter category and doesn't offer much exciting, Persehone on the other hand is a nice track with full-blown keys and nice guitar parts. On the whole, however, it doesn't captivate me enough, the compositions are not exciting enough for that while the good intentions are clear. There are really beautiful passages but just when you are comfortable in it, another abrupt transition comes along that somehow does not fit. Still, I am convinced that there is a lot to gain and if Bennett can be convinced to hire one, or more, better vocalists, then certainly. For now, an album with a clear penchant for the past, audible potential, beautiful musical pieces and solos but just too little expressiveness. ***- Erik Fraanje (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
