I saw their 2024 debut pass by and did not or could not latch onto it for further perusal, but who else than my revered prog colleague and friend Lazland to set me on the right path by reading his glowing review of this sophomore work, that finally ordered me to hunt this one down. Also being in a duet band structure myself, I more than just understand the benefits of synergy between two people with common goals and outlooks. Large bands can have ego problems that can pollute the political climate and force argument, dismissal or even surrender. Seemingly, Poli Elizondo and Guillermo Gracia have created an artistic musical relationship where the guidelines are clearly set from the start, each one involved in stimulating the other and thus, finding stylistic common ground.
The title track sets the cinematographic tone with an extensive (and longest piece here), introducing the multiple strengths of each musician, Poli is an accomplished bass and electric guitar player, while Guillermo owns a seductive voice that oozes either hushed or passionate sentiments (at times, I heard a bit of Peter Murphy, in less gothic tones), and adorns the compositions with skillful keyboard spines, leaving plenty of room for broad flamboyance when required. The atmosphere is melancholic and tragic, the lyrical message is one of the usual hardships associated with life on the blue planet, you know, freedom, the endless pursuit of happiness and the quest for something better than what has already been acquired.
As tasty as the opening piece was, “Rising Sand” raises (excuse the pun) the sonic threshold with a pulverizing bass and drum connection, the flaunting four strings unafraid to boldly wander into side dunes towards the end, Guillermo’s vocal ramping up the vigour with a resonating sense of reality.
On “A Dark Place”, there is a ton of gravitas in the overall sombre delivery, practically reminiscent of Mamouna -era Bryan Ferry, the crushed voice severely desolate, the distant electric guitar introspectively searching for panacea, the piano shining like ghostly ivory and a yearning for any form of understanding. Perhaps only then will the sun flicker through. Somehow. “Turmoil” follows suite, a piano-led dirge, Guillermo surely singing from his knees, a glittering guitar plea that explodes with restrained intensity overhead.
Three final pieces, each in the 6–7-minute range, implies that this was purposefully constructed, as if a trio of chapters were necessary in order to survive. “Keep Breathing” comes across as particularly truculent, far from any hint of tropical paradise, actually the polar opposite. It has a quasi-Icelandic feel, a cold and barren melancholia counterbalanced by occasional geysers of infernal chanting, hell-fired guitar flashes out to decimate any remaining vegetation that may have survived.
The definite acme is reached on the stupendous “Burn as One”, a melody so intense, that within seconds, tears may start flowing. The impeccable groove is preciously maintained yet delves even deeper into the tragedy of emotional discord, the eternal obstacle the vast majority of humans often face, yearning for loving and being loved, at times a seemingly impossible task. Everything here services the anguish, from the hopeful piano chords, the churning organ interjection, the irritated elevation in the voice, a colossal choir finale and the pulsating rhythmic pounding throughout. Yes, time flies. This is playlist material, a love song for the ages, a stunning modern prog.
Finally, the revelation arrives that being human means that in order to survive hardship, someone needs to move on, somehow, somewhere and sometime. “The Waiting Game” sends the message to keep the faith, not the public example, but that inner individual strength, the one that leads by principle, that makes our blood circulate and our lungs to breathe in the air. ‘Its all about the journey, the waiting game is so long’! Put that in a loop and pray to it each and every day.
An ear-opening discovery that satisfied the craving to understand the extremes of our own emotions, how easy/difficult it can be to go from one to the other. The idea is to find that moment when you stop, because you found the balance point. It’s smack in the middle, and you will never fall off. Music can be a healing form of panacea.
Muchas gracias Laz
4.5 Pink reveries