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| Track by Track Review
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DMK
This comes in gradually with keyboards building out to driving intensity after a time. It fires out into fierce prog jamming with some hints of fusion from there. The instrumental introduction is very long, but eventually this works out to some nearly metallic, AOR styled prog rock. I'm definitely reminded of Styx, but the harder-edged, proggier side of that band. This is such a great tune that has so many varied elements. |
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Asunción
I really love the almost Celtic rock meets Yes vibe that gets this cut going. It works out to more Styx like sounds. This has a melodic prog sound to it with some pop-like leanings. Then again, that description does apply to a lot of Styx music. There are also some hints of things like Starcastle to me. |
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The Devil Returns
There is a definite jazzy groove on hand here. This tune is another great proggy jam. It resolves to more hard rocking stuff for the entrance of the vocals. |
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Intourist Suite (a. Nevalyashka, b. Agent M. vs The Sex Lizard, c. Zombie Love)
This epic is just over 11-and-a-half minutes It comes in tentatively with classically inspired sounds and instrumentation. This eventually works out to a more rocking jam that has some hints of world music and non-English lyrics. As female vocals enter later, for the second section, the music turns somewhat jazzy and playful. The track keeps shifting and changing with unique art music vibes at play. The lyrics to that second section are pretty humorous in a somewhat crude, slice of life way. As it moves to an instrumental section it gets dramatic and works through a number of changes. Then we get a return of vocals with an arrangement that has some electronic vibes at play. This "Zombie Love" has some dance music among the prog stylings. It's playful and fun. The closing movement is pretty dramatic and decidedly proggy. |
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Mr. Darwin
Blues rock, jam band sounds and even some country are all on the menu here. This has some driving harmonica and spirited female vocals. It has some pretty sarcastic lyrics. The arrangement does have some progressive rock things at play. |
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Side Hustle
I dig the flute work on this song. The track has a hard rocking groove, but it's also definitely prog rock. I know that flute often calls to mind Jethro Tull, and I suppose that's true here to a very small degree. Overall, though, this tune has a pretty distinctive texture. It's a classy cut and sees the return of the male lead vocals. |
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The Red Apple
The female vocals are back here. This has a lot of world music in the mix. It's a mellower track, but does get powered up at times. It still has plenty of prog built into it. |
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Smiling
This one has an intriguing electronic meets prog texture as it gets going with an understated arrangement and the female vocals. It builds out gradually as it continues. It gets a little more rocking further down the road, but never really rises to the level of some of the rest. |
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Bonus Tracks:
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Mr. Skin
A cover of the classic Spirit song, this has some quirky art-rock angles, some jazz and more in the mix. This is a lot of fun. It turns proggier later in the extended instrumental jam. |
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The Red Apple (Acoustic)
Here we get what the title and parenthetical advertises. I love the violin at the beginning of this. I think I prefer the track in this format with the focus on vocals, acoustic guitar and violin along with some piano. It gets more involved later, but remains similarly organic. It just gets more powerful. |
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Asunción (Spanish)
This not only has lyrics in Spanish, but also female vocals instead of the male ones on the other version. This really gets soaring and powerful. Again, I might prefer this one to the other version. |
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