Somnambulist - The Paranormal Humidor


Year of Release: 2001
Label: Laser's Edge
Catalog Number: LE1035
Format: CD
Total Time: 54:09:00

I have to admit that this time, upon the delivery of The Paranormal Humidor, I immediately went to the web to catch some additional information regarding Somnambulist, as the bizarre combo (just check the title and cover of the album to have an idea :-) ) was completely unbeknownst to me, inexplicably overlooked by my ear/eye, always scanning the horizon to find some new prog revelations. And I was certainly shocked to learn that The Paranormal Humidor is already their second album, as the debut was released (in 1996!!!) by The Laser's Edge, a great independent American label that has other interesting musicians under contract like Zero Hour or Spiral Architect (the latter under their subsidiary Sensory). However Somnambulist can be easily added to the label's promising core of talent, 'cause their music is really intriguing, as I view it almost like a perfect merging between the legacy of early progressive rock and what this genre can still offer, in terms of innovation, within the next few years. In fact, the band's approach is similar to the bands of the early seventies, thanks mainly to some references to the beautiful choral orchestrations crafted by Yes and to various crazy Crimsonic rhythmic patterns. But, Somnambulist are able to add a modern use of sounds to the picture, something that separates them from recent bands that still continue to play only "old" themes. In fact this group, guided by Terry Clouse and Jody Park, looks to prog history, but at the same time moves forward, thanks also to chameleon vocalist Peter Cornell, always at ease among the polychromatic vocal lines. The torrential "Died And Gone," or the hypnotic opening "In The Mindwarp Pavillion" ... this record possesses a lot of interesting tracks, so the only thing that remains to be seen is if one becomes a real somnambulist after listening over and over again to the tunes!


Tracklisting:
In The Mindwarp Pavillion (8:09) / Pathos Of Least Resistance (7:37) / Destroy She Said (7;23) / Infant (1:30) / Troy Built Helen (10:10) / Died And Gone (6:00) / Paranormal Humidor (13:20)

Musicians:
Jo Whitaker - drums, percussion
Charlie Shelton - electric 6, acoustic 12 string guitars
Peter Cornell - vocals
Jody Park - piano, organ, synths, various keyed things
Terry Clouse - fretted and fretless bass

Discography:
Somnambulist (1996)
The Paranormal Humidor (2002)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: July 30th 2002
Reviewer: Igor Italiani

Artist website: www.somnambulistonline.com
Hits: 1721
Language: english

  

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