Album Rating: 3.5

Something important is missing for ''Park Bench''; Some cohesion in the arrangements. I feel the instruments go independantly of the vocals. They don't fit well together. Song doesn't do much to me. Same goes to ''The Master's Voice''. Song is rather bland. ''Bela Kiss'' is a good ''honky tonk'' like track, but it doesn't have its place on the album imo. We have to wait for ''Know your Time'' to have a strong track, even if the chorus could be better. Verses are perfect though. So yes, to me, the second part of the album easily surpasses the first one, and I feel generous to giving it a 4.

Album Rating: 4.0

Listening for the second time currently, Park Bench is actually one of my favorites so far.

Album Rating: 3.5

I try hard to like it more than I do, but it doesn't come naturally, and I really feel something is missing in the song.

Album Rating: 4.0

Maybe. As I said, it's only my second listen, so my opinions on the album definitely could change.

Album Rating: 3.5

Is this your first Gazpacho album? There are better albums by them out there, such as ''Tick Tock'', ''Night'' and ''Demon'' (in order for a starting point).

Album Rating: 4.0

The only other one I've heard is Demon, which I love. I've been meaning to listen to more though, starting with Night.

Album Rating: 4.0

Park Bench's flaw is, I agree, its arrangements. To me, it's not really because instrumentally it doesn't go well along the vocals, but because it's a bit too diverse for its own coherence. I usually absolutely love how the band just blends interesting influences into a same song or album - like the koto-driven Wizard of Altai Moutains ending on a gypsy-style accordion solo - but this time I feel like there's too many different ideas introduced for it to have a satisfying build-up as the song's structure would suggest. Musically though, especially the melodies and the drum/bass duality, the song is excellent.



And those last to minutes are such a wonderful moment that it entirely makes up for those flaws, to me at least.

Album Rating: 3.5

''it's a bit too diverse for its own coherence.''

I agree and I forgot to mention it when I wrote my comment yesterday. The song takes too much directions without properly completing them.

Your comment makes me accept more ''Bela Kiss'' since almost in every album, they're adding something ''exotic'', or including a particularly original song or segment.

And you make me think I still need to listen to ''Wizard''.

Album Rating: 4.0

I must say, even though this isn't as coherent and compelling as Demon, Night or Tick Tock, there's at least a few fantastic moments to be found.

Album Rating: 3.5

agreed but shame there are a few meeehhh moments here too

Album Rating: 3.5

Yeah I feel that most of the songs are not enough developed. The songwriting could have use of more clever arrangements. Plus it doesn't have much replay value to my ear. The only songs that manage to come and go in my head are 'Choir of Ancestors' and 'Alarm'. Every other songs have a degree of flaw into it imo. Doesn't mean they are skippable, but they could use of more finition. 'Know your Time' is close to fully satisfy me, but I dislike its chorus. 3.8/5 would be the maximum I could give.

Album Rating: 3.5

It's stuff like ABC and Bela Kiss, which just have nothing to come back to and at some points, are too gimmicky for its own good.



But yeah, Choirs of Ancestors is the standout

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

I like that this is a little shorter and simpler than most Gazpacho records. There's still plenty of the quirky, diverse instrumentation that's expected for the band. It's just in the service of more straightforward, less grand moments, like the epics on Demon and Night.

Album Rating: 4.0

I feel the record was intended as a rather diverse collection of ideas, and in that sense it succeeds. Of course, it definitely isn't as much of a "sonic experience" as were Demon or Night, but it makes for some refreshing moments, which wouldn't have had their place on a typical Gazpacho album.

I agree, though, that a few ideas feel underdeveloped or incomplete

Although I praise this album, a few minutes ago I started listening to Demon and realized just how superior it is

Album Rating: 3.5

With Demon, though, it's as if there is complete balance with everything and everything is placed perfectly where large portions in this are either boring or annoying, such as the oversinging and etc. Whilst there can be a plethora ideas, they don't always gel.

Album Rating: 4.0

No, of course, Demon is an amazing and extremely cohesive record, but I think both albums have a very different nature. As I said, what I think consider to be an interesting aspect of this album is that it permitted the creation of refreshing ideas which required shorter developments and different song structures. It never is as fulfilling as Demon - and I think in the end the band only really succeeds at composing more album-oriented music - but it offers a different approach to their sound.

Album Rating: 4.5

Ohme is my favorite prog singer. I like this album especially because he gets the chance to shine on it. It's like his vocal is the diamond, and the music is the most beautiful setting for him to shine in. The music is wonderful, but it's not the main focus--on this album (for me).

Album Rating: 3.5

indeed, and at the very least, they are doing new things and reinventing themselves

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Oh us prog fans and our polite music discussions =)

I like this better than Demon atm