Band: Simon Says
Band Website: www.gepr.net/simon.html
Label: Galileo/ProgRock Records
Label Website: www.progrockrecords.com
Release Date: 2008
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.