Alias Eye - A Different Point Of You


Year of Release: 2003
Label: DVS Records
Catalog Number: DVS011
Format: CD
Total Time: 51:06:00

In 2000 the Germany based Alias Eye presented their first album and it was clear they had a promising future ahead of themselves. Now they finally have released the follow up album: A Different Point Of You, which really captured me, as it is a brilliant album. Many new releases have the problem they either sound like their last release or like a band from the 70s, and this is where Alias Eye stands out in a crowd!

If there is one band who whole heartedly deserves the label progressive rock, with the emphasis on progressive, it is Alias Eye. The 9 songs on the album are quite catchy, sometimes even poppy, but very surprising. The surprise is mainly in the instruments they have added: contrabass, saxophone and they even have an old fashioned accordion (I thought it was a sample, but the band assured me it's the real thing, which in my opinion makes it even better they used it!). But also the compositions are very melodic, with various influences. Like in the opening track "A Clown's Tale," they have woven an oriental melody in the song and mixed it with some subtle and, although not too much in the foreground, heavy guitar riffs and Timo Wagner guesting on the saxophone, which gives the song a very warm touch. This saxophone returns in the second track, "Fake The Right," which opens with a mellow guitar riff, followed by the brass sound and it has a very catchy melody, close to being a pop song. It is amazing how well the walk the fine line between pop and prog, while never sounding cheap or commercial.

"Your Other Way" is one of my favourite songs on the album. Here Bernd Schreiber guests on the acoustic guitar and also the use the accordion sound here, which gives it a bit of a Mediterranean sound. Vocalist Philip Griffiths has a nice voice, it fits the songs very much. The keyboards and piano arrangements by Vytas Lemke are perfect to spice up the songs, sometimes sweeten them, but never too much and the rhythm section, Ludwig Benedek (drums) and Frank Fischer (bass) take care of the foundation of the songs, and do it with moderation and subtlety. "The Usual Routine" is a more up tempo song, with a chorus that will stick in your head and has a hint of fusion.

Of course a tender ballad is included, which both shows how versatile Alias Eye is, and how well they can compose good songs. "Drifting" is a song that can only be described as "beautiful" and that should cover everything about it. Did I mention guitarist Matthias Richter yet? His guitar arrangements are absolutely masterful and very balanced. No unnecessary solos or heavy riffs, but soooo good! Like in "The Great Open," this starts as a fragile ballad, but grows to such a fantastic song, with superb guitars, heavy, but no metal, and an excellent solo. The closing track shows yet another side of the band: the jazz side. Here guest musician Bernd Schreiber plays the contrabass, together with the soft keyboards, this is a very surprising song for a prog band, but they pull it off!

A lot of words about this album, but I can't help it ... it is such a good album, with simply beautiful songs and they show Alias Eye has grown tremendously and are a true progressive band. Great artwork from Mattias Norén tops off this high quality album. This album is a must have for all lovers of good progressive music. So, let's not waste words anymore and run to your nearest CD shop and get this album. If you still like to hear it first (after all, whether you like something or not, remains a matter of personal taste), check out their website for some samples. But I can assure you this is one hell of a good album.

[This review originally appeared December 2003 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]
Tracklisting:
A Clown's Tale (6:52) / Fake The Right (5:02) / Your Other Way (6:48) / Icarus Unworded (6:36) / The Usual Routine (4:42) / Drifting (3:18) / On The Fringe (7:04) / The Great Open (7:28) / Too Much Toulouse (3:16)

Musicians:
Philip Griffiths - lead vocals
Vytas Lemke - keyboards
Frank Fischer - bass
Ludwig Benedek - drums
Matthias Richter - guitars

Discography:
Beyond The Mirror (ep) (2000)
Field Of Names (2001)
A Different Point Of You (2003/2004)
In Focus (2007)
In Between (2011)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin DE

Added: December 8th 2004
Reviewer: Marcel Haster
Score:
Artist website: www.aliaseye.com
Hits: 3094
Language: english

  

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