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It’s been six years since the last Simon Says release
back in 2002 and from what I can hear the band has only gone
from strength to strength. With their new release, their third
entitled Tardigrade the band has delivered ten new symphonic
prog compositions of the highest quality. The band’s current
line-up consists of Daniel Feldt (vocals), Jonas Hallberg
(guitars, percussion), Mattias Jarlhed (drums, backing vocals),
Stefan Renstrom (bass, keyboards) and Magnus Paulsson (keyboards).
On this release, the band continue their epic tale of Simon,
only on this disc he is reborn as Tardigrade.***
The music of Simon Says is classic symphonic prog, replete
with huge swells of Mellotron choirs, soaring keyboard and
guitar solos mixed with soft and delicate acoustic guitars
and piano. If I said nothing more you would get the picture
but more needs to be said. The musicianship on Tardigrade
is very accomplished with the overall tone and symphonic style
being reminiscent of bands such as Yes circa Relayer and Genesis
circa Wind and Wuthering. The opening track “Suddenly the
Rain” (14:48) features all the right elements including a
rousing melody that recurs throughout the piece with the song’s
title sung in refrain. Following the first track’s grand finish
the band launch into the rocking, off-kilter title track “Tardigrade”
(3:44) with incorporates some tasty Hammond sounds within
a complex rhythm structure that wouldn’t sound out of place
on a Gentle Giant recording. We’re then treated some pleasant
acoustic guitar and vocals backed by some beautiful Mellotron
strings on “The Chosen One” (5:45) before the song morphs
into a more up-tempo feel. Other tracks such as the lush Mellotron
filled “As the River Runs” (10:35) feature a host of familiar
musical motifs that are sure to satisfy fans of this genre.
The track “Circles End” (6:21) puts the focus again on the
acoustic guitar, and Mellotron choirs and flute. As if that
wasn’t enough Simon Says ends the disc with the epic “Brother
Where You Bound” (26:48) made up of multiple segments that
incorporate everything from prog to jazz to spacey atmospherics
ending with a multiple crescendos.***
The music of Simon Says will easily appeal to fans of
bands such as IQ or Spock’s Beard or anyone into classic symphonic
progressive rock. The music on Tardigrade mixes heavily orchestrated
symphonic moments with quirky counterpoint, blending the electric
with the acoustic, shifting the music’s tempo up and down
to suit the story telling. As on their previous outing the
music is at once familiar and yet somehow new and fresh. This
is a no-brainer must-add to the CD collection and easily of
my favorites so far in 2008.
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