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Space Odyssey - The Astral Episode

Space Odyssey - The Astral Episode
Released: 2005
Label: Regain Records
Cat. No.: RR 059
Total Time: 53:35

Reviewed by: Jan-Mikael Erakare, October 2005
Evaluation:

Space themes. Again. Science fiction, heavy on the fiction, looow on the science …. Space is no longer the final frontier. It's the last straw.

Analysis:

Well executed, beautifully recorded, technical, expertly played, complex, Astral Episode has all of the hallmarks of the genre. A tremendous amount of work must have gone into producing music of this caliber, and the dedication, passion and single-minded focus of these guys must be applauded.

BUT…

This is music for musicians. The only soul present here is in the vocal delivery. Like Russ Allen from Symphony X, and Jorn Lande (Ark and others), Nils Patrik Johansson has a tremendous voice, but the lyrics and subject matter render his heroic efforts void. The music doesn’t speak to me, and I bet to not a lot of other listeners either … at least those who are looking for a frame of reference … something emotional, insightful or at worst controversial.

Don’t get me wrong … I love technical music, but it has to inspire an emotion in me. Any emotion.

I'm a musician; technicality for technicality's sake used to at least inspire me to go and practice. As I've aged, I practice no less, but technical music that doesn't speak to even the basest of emotions leaves me cold.

Lyrics have to speak to me, be sardonic, cause me to think, or at least be so infuriatingly stupid that my ire is raised. Nothing about this music even remotely inspires any kind of response from me. I can only ask, "why?"

Rating

2.5-/5. The minus is for the hideously derivative solo section in "Astral Episode," the hopelessly banal lyrics and oh, heck, just for even bothering to make this kind of music and to attempt to sell it as a unique package.

Summary:

Terrific vocalist, killer musicianship; devoid of any significant meaning and therefore ancillary.

Instead of buying and listening to this album, go get a book (remember those things? paper, words, sometimes pictures) and broaden your horizons. Feed your mind. Listening to this is like watching CSPAN with the sound off….

Remember in Spinal Tap when Nigel Tufnel leaves the band and they end up playing gigs briefly as the Spinal Tap Jazz Odyssey?

More about The Astral Episode:

Track Listing: Through Dreams And Reality (5:48) / Astral Episode (8:35) / Lord of the Winds (6:43) / Dazzle The Devil (7:29) / Back To The Dark (5:35) / Presence of Mind (4:40) / Reversation (6:20) / The Seventh Star Fantasy (8:25)

Musicians:
Richard Andersson - keyboards
Nils Patrik Johansson - vocals
Andreas Brobjer drums
Magnus Nilsson - guitars and bass

Contact:

Website: www.anderssonmusic.com
Note: will open new browser window

Discography

Embrace The Galaxy (2003)
The Astral Epsidoe (2005)

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© Copyright 2005 ProgressiveWorld.net/Jan-Mikael Erakare

	Space Odyssey - The Astral Episode
	Released: 2005 Label: Regain Records Cat. No.: RR 059 Total Time: 53:35
	Reviewed by: Jan-Mikael Erakare, October 2005 Evaluation: Space themes. Again. Science fiction, heavy on the fiction, looow on the science …. Space is no longer the final frontier. It's the last straw. Analysis: Well executed, beautifully recorded, technical, expertly played, complex, Astral Episode has all of the hallmarks of the genre. A tremendous amount of work must have gone into producing music of this caliber, and the dedication, passion and single-minded focus of these guys must be applauded. BUT… This is music for musicians. The only soul present here is in the vocal delivery. Like Russ Allen from Symphony X, and Jorn Lande (Ark and others), Nils Patrik Johansson has a tremendous voice, but the lyrics and subject matter render his heroic efforts void. The music doesn’t speak to me, and I bet to not a lot of other listeners either … at least those who are looking for a frame of reference … something emotional, insightful or at worst controversial. Don’t get me wrong … I love technical music, but it has to inspire an emotion in me. Any emotion. I'm a musician; technicality for technicality's sake used to at least inspire me to go and practice. As I've aged, I practice no less, but technical music that doesn't speak to even the basest of emotions leaves me cold. Lyrics have to speak to me, be sardonic, cause me to think, or at least be so infuriatingly stupid that my ire is raised. Nothing about this music even remotely inspires any kind of response from me. I can only ask, "why?" Rating 2.5-/5. The minus is for the hideously derivative solo section in "Astral Episode," the hopelessly banal lyrics and oh, heck, just for even bothering to make this kind of music and to attempt to sell it as a unique package. Summary: Terrific vocalist, killer musicianship; devoid of any significant meaning and therefore ancillary. Instead of buying and listening to this album, go get a book (remember those things? paper, words, sometimes pictures) and broaden your horizons. Feed your mind. Listening to this is like watching CSPAN with the sound off…. Remember in Spinal Tap when Nigel Tufnel leaves the band and they end up playing gigs briefly as the Spinal Tap Jazz Odyssey? More about The Astral Episode: Track Listing: Through Dreams And Reality (5:48) / Astral Episode (8:35) / Lord of the Winds (6:43) / Dazzle The Devil (7:29) / Back To The Dark (5:35) / Presence of Mind (4:40) / Reversation (6:20) / The Seventh Star Fantasy (8:25) Musicians: Richard Andersson - keyboards Nils Patrik Johansson - vocals Andreas Brobjer drums Magnus Nilsson - guitars and bass Contact: Website: www.anderssonmusic.com Note: will open new browser window Discography Embrace The Galaxy (2003) The Astral Epsidoe (2005)
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