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A Liquid Landscape: Nightingale Express

Melodic/Progressive Rock

3.0/5.0

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The Laser's Edge
by Craig Hartranft,  02.27.2012

Here's a band, A Liquid Landscape, and their debut album, Nightingale Express, where it will be difficult to hide my ambivalence. Coming from the Netherlands, aLL has shared the stage with some grand progressive rock acts including Karnivool, Anathema, Thrice, and Riverside. Prominent producer Forrester Savell (Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus, The Butterfly Effect, et al) helped to mix this album. Dutch filmmaker Lex Vesseur has created a short film from the music, and visual effects for the bands live shows. Rather impressive accomplishments.

Above, A Liquid Landscape: why are the two dudes in the back made blurry?

The album, Nightingale Express, I guess so, too. This is rather 'quiet' progressive rock, melodic and melancholy in general. Mostly the canvas is ethereal and atmospheric, with dream-like vocals, light effortless guitars, and cushioned to quirky synths. Sure, there's some heavier movements, but scattered and mostly crescendos of riffage. Nightingale Express is supposed to be a concept album. But with little information about the theme or lyrics, I'm not sure what that is.

Ultimately, Nightingale Express requires little effort from listener, whether for simple enjoyment or musical interpretation. Actually, more energy may be expended trying to pay attention. If, for some reason, you choose to be doing something else while this is playing, it's likely the music will simply slip by, and the album will be over. It's not that music, the arrangements, or the musicianship is suspect or bad; it's not. It's just there.

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A Liquid Landscape's Nightingale Express requires little effort from listener, whether for simple enjoyment or musical interpretation. Actually, more energy may be expended trying to pay attention. It's not that music or the musicianship is suspect or bad; it's not. It's just there.

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The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]