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(Strawberry Fields) is a new project put together by
leading Polish progger Wojtek Szadkowski, of Collage, Peter
Pan and Satellite fame. For this album he has teamed up
with new a new voice in the crowd, Robin - who has also
written all the lyrics. They are supported by Satellite's
Sarhan Kubeisi on guitar and Jarek Michalski on bass.***
Those of you familiar with Wojteks work in Satellite,
and that should be most of you, will be surprised to hear
that he has a mellower side, and that's something that really
comes out on these songs. With Robin's beautiful and emotive
voice at the forefront here, it's easy to see where the
comparisons with bands like The Gathering have come from.
They don't come off badly in comparison either!***
Album opener "Your Story" is a slow, dreamy tune with
perfectly encapulates what the bands sound is about. Robin's
vocals over Wojteks restrained keyboards, with a fair dose
of Sarhan's guitar for good measure. It could almost be
trance-prog if such a thing exists.***
Other highlights on the album are the heavier "Close",
the Portishead groove of title track "River's Gone Dry"
the late night jazz of "Moon", the Natalie Imbrugliaish
"Beautiful" and "Open Your Eyes".***
Overall, this is an excellent and atmospheric debut,
which shows plenty of promise for the future, and it might
even give The Gathering a kick up the arse, as they work
on their first album since Anneke van Giersbergen left.***
Charlie
O'Mara of "Silhobbit"
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