Band: Moongarden
CD Title: “Songs from the Lighthouse”
Band Website: www.myspace.com/moongardenband
Label: Galileo Records/ProgRock
Records
Label Website: www.progrockrecords.com
Release Date: 2008
It’s only been four years since the last Moongarden CD
release entitled Round Midnight, but a lot has happened to the band. They’ve incorporated an excellent new guitarist and a masterful
new vocalist and all of this has had a dramatic and positive effect on the band. It’s really energized them and it shows in the music
they’ve created for their fifth studio release entitled Songs from the Lighthouse, which comes in a beautifully designed package compliments
of master designer Ed Unitsky. It is a thing of beauty.
Italy’s Moongarden came together in the early nineties and in their
early days they were not afraid of covering classic Genesis or even Osanna for various tribute recordings. All of this certainly helped
this quintet formulate their own sound and style, which if you were to describe it would include equal parts classic symphonic prog
blended with some modern alternative rock sounds. The newer sounds are incorporated exceptionally well through the use of skilled
keyboard work and complex brooding arrangements. Many of the songs are longer, running over seven minutes with three even longer than
that. Perhaps picking up on the tracks title “My Darkside” (7:26) displays a darker, melancholy feel with the composition ending with
some haunting Mellotron strings. We’re then treated to a deceptively simple song “It’s You” (7:04) that builds in intensity throughout
it’s length ending in massed Mellotron choirs and huge orchestration. Next is “Solaris” (13:00) which is easily one of my favorite
tracks inspired by the classic Russian movie of the same name. It features multiple rhythms and melodies drifting in and out of the
song’s length. This track also features a little more aggressive guitar that fits so neatly against the Mellotron string backdrop.
This track, like many of the others goes through a number of mood shifts in time and tempo as well as intensity. The instrumental
interplay is very accomplished even though it’s not overly complex. For me each of the 10 tracks held something more intriguing than
the sheer number of notes used. Each was hypnotic in its own way. Fans of The Tangent will be excited to hear the distinctive voice
of Andy Tillison on “That Child” (5:52), a track that is as large and symphonic as they come. I could go on but I’m sure you get the
picture.
To my ears, Moongarden have really stepped up their game with Songs from the Lighthouse. The symphonic prog they create
sounds both classic and yet very modern. Like their previous release there are some “alternative” elements but never straying very
far from a symphonic prog foundation. In fact I’d say the emphasis on this release is at times more along the lines of the classic
Italian symphonic bands that played with a harder edge. This is brilliant stuff and easily another CD that will be one of my favorites
of 2008. If you haven’t clued into Moongarden yet….don’t hesitate, pick up Songs from the Lighthouse today!
