Album of the year!
After listening to the cd for the first time, it turned out to be another well-known Gazpacho-experience at first: the sound is excellent and the music is rather ok. The cd is more accesible than its predecessor "Demon" from 2014.
After one turn there's enough to think and mesmerize about, let alone the interesting theme of the album (find out yourself!).
To cut a long story short, the music grows on you with each and every turn.
I played it a lot of times by now and believe me, there are new things and sounds to discover yet.
Maybe that's how the machine (Molok) works; it creates its own unique atmosphere with every listen.
From the first track (Park Bench) with its tribal intro and haunting vocals to the last (Molok Rising) you're being captured by all sorts of melodies, heavenly choirs, rhythms and tempo changes; a whirlwind of emotions.
Gazpacho is well known for their use of a wide scale of instruments (acoustic and electric), not always the most current ones, with the most amazing results. Together with their use of folk- and eastern arrangements and the voice of Jan-Hendrik Ohme, magic moments are created.
There are no weak songs or fillers on this album, although Bela Kiss needs some time to grow into the gem it actually is;
mr. Ohme is doing a nice job there!
For people not familiar with the music of Gazpacho, think Radiohead, Marillion, Japan.
Actually, they don't sound like any of the bands mentioned at all, but it's more about the same atmospheric experience.
I was lucky to see the band perform in Zoetermeer (NL) in October during the Molok-tour.
Without speaking less about the rest of the band, the star of that gig was Mikael Kromer (violin/guitar).
So, if you have the oppurtunity to see them perfom live, go see them, it's 200% worthwile!
And for now, listen to this incredible peace of progmusic and be amazed!
