GAZPACHO - NIGHT - 2007

Пока остальные сыны родины викингов куют металл разного вида, молодая группа из Осло решила пойти сложным и тернистым путем прогрессивного рока, впрочем, не ограничивая себя даже его весьма широкими рамками. Один из критиков дал следующее определение музыке этого коллектива: "classical post ambient nocturnal atmospheric neo-progressive folk world rock". Сложно что-то к этому добавить. Но если искать паралелли, то в музыке норвежцев можно найти отголоски Porcupine Tree, Anekdoten, Marillion, Radiohead и даже A-HA. "Night" - это уже четвертая работа группы и самая сильная на данный момент. По сравнению с предыдущими релизами, музыка значительно усложнилась, стала более яркой и оригинальной. Сложно описать ту уникальную атмосферу, которая присутствует в каждой композиции альбома. Это альбом-настроение - который варьируется от мрачно-меланхоличного и романтично-грустного до какого-то светло-сказочного. Сложные, многоуровневые аранжировки, душещипательные партии скрипки, мягкие клавиши, стонущая гитара и эмоциональный вокал, все это - Gazpacho. Всем поклонникам красивой и серьезной музыки строго рекомендуется. От себя же накину еще один балл.
http://www.darkside.ru


Not being familiar with the band GAZPACHO, but after reading the very positive reviews on this site, I decided to buy this album instantly. Supposedly GAZPACHO toured together with PORCUPINE TREE and one might compare GAZPACHO to bands like PORCUPINE TREE and RADIOHEAD in the way that these bands are all quite difficult to be "boxed".

The album kicks of with the 17 minute long track "Dream of Stone". Out of nowhere pounding sounds are fading in and it sounds like a train moving in closer and closer. This sound is accompanied by a deep bass and drums about a minute later and one minute after that we are treated by Jan Henrik Ohme's warm vocals. I would almost say he sounds a bit Thom Yorkish and the music a bit Radioheadish, but that would be rather unfair to GAZPACHO, because they prove that they are a very competent band, maybe even better than Thom York and consortium. Towards the end of this track the music fades out and a delicate piano links the first two tracks seamlessly.

The second track "Chequered Light Buildings" is a very warm and delicate track. The lyrics remind me a bit of "Perfect Blue Buildings" by Counting Crows. This track also breathes the same depressing atmosphere as "Perfect Blue Buildings" does. The midsection of this track is solely instrumental and sounds wonderful. Towards the end we hear the same piano tunes that the song started out with. Again track 3 and 4 are blended into one other.

The third track "Inside Out" is probably my favourite track of the album. Wow! What a great melody and did I already mention Jan Henrik Ohme's warm vocals? This is it! Pure indulgement. Words cannot describe the way I feel about this track. Simply wonderful! No wonder the 10 minutes of this track only seem to last only 5. To make the whole complete we are treated by some delicate violins near the end of the track.

Track 4, "Valerie's Friend" is another atmospheric, yet very dramatic piece. Jan Henrik Ohme sounds like he's carrying a heavy burden on his shoulders. Beautiful once again.

The final track "Massive Illusion" lasts over 13 minutes as well. The wonderful opening sounds of this track are coming from the tin whistle played by Kristian Skedsmo. He is the big guest artist on this album also playing low whistle, accordion, didgeridoo, mandolin and banjo! In the liner notes the band expresses their appreciation towards him: "Our idol and well trusted mad genius wizard; Kristian "The Duke" Skedsmo. To him we owe it all." The middle piece is a bit more up-tempo and contains some fine hauling guitar work. The outro of the song contains some great piano and strings and this could be a wonderful emotional classical piece.

So how would I rate this album? I wonder between 4 and 5 stars. Maybe it isn't a masterpiece to anyone, but it surely is to me. This could very well be the best album of 2007! Yet it will have quite some competition of albums have already been released like "Blackfield II" and Sylvan's "Presets". And keeping in mind that Porcupine Tree's "Fear Of A Blank Planet" will be released at the end of April '07 and Riverside's third studio album coming out somewhere near the end of this year, 2007 will be a very interesting Progressive year!

I think I owe this album a 5 star rating.
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