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Taal - Skymind (2003)

Genre: Progressive Rock

After four years of reviewing prog CD's for the GEPR, it's not very frequently these days that my jaw drops when I hear a new band. But upon hearing Taal's Skymind, I had to reel my chin in from the floor. Not because of any incredible displays of lightning-fast playing ... incredible musicianship is practically the price of admission for being in a prog band, though Taal has incredible musicianship in abundance (ten band members!). No, Taal moves me with the compositions ... weaving string quartets (occasionally with one of the "strings" being electric guitar) with hard-rocking guitar/bass/drums and a heavy dose of French cabaret music ... or is that Russian folk music? Who knows? By the time Taal is done with it, they've made it into something altogether different anyway.

Heavy, almost prog-metal sections swap over to eastern European violin music in a heartbeat, and then someone tunes the shortwave radio for a moment and something completely different comes out. Two drummers ensure that the rhythms are complex and varied, and the string quartet and flute occasionally remind of Jethro Tull circa War Child. Sometimes the music becomes like the march anthems from Pink Floyd's The Wall. There's even a few hints of Zappa in Skymind's attitude and musicianship.

But ultimately, Taal doesn't sound much like anyone else. They've managed to put those twelve little notes in an octave together in yet another new and fresh way, and these guys (and ladies!) are one of the most innovative, expressive and exciting bands around today. Skymind is nothing short of a masterpiece, and I hope I get to see this band perform some day. They've played at a couple of festivals in Europe including ProgSud and Crescendo festivals, both in 2003 in France, but haven't been to the U.S. yet to my knowledge (the logistics of getting 10 people and their equipment on a tour must be staggering!). My highest recommendation for Skymind! ~ Review 1 by Fred Trafton @ Buy It at Lowest Price on Amazon

Review 2 by Nigel Camilleri @ :

When reviewing Taal's previous outing, Mister Green some three years ago was taken aback by the strength in musical depth this band had managed to attain on their debut album. In fact it was with great anticipation that I sat down to listen to Skymind and once again, this band managed to blow me away.

Structurally they have managed to retain much of what characterized their debut album though they have managed to go one step further showing a greater tightness as well as musical diversity. Furthermore, they have seemingly upped the power in their heavier sequences thus creating a much more dramatic contrast with the delicate strings and flute.

For those who are unaccustomed to this band, one should mention the strangeness of this line-up which I have not come across in the numerous bands that I have listened to and/or reviewed. One could describe them as a progressive metal band with the classical rock line-up of guitars, bass, keyboards and drums augmented with the sound of a classical string quartet. Two separate and anachronistic sounds that somehow the band have managed to fuse in perfect symbiosis creating a wonderful work of art.

The opening Skymind sees the band focusing on strong rhythm rather than melody and could be described as Stravinsky's Rite Of Spring being played alongside a band such as King Crimson. Sheer class and power! Another feature that characterized Mister Green was the occasional Middle Eastern theme that seemed to flow throughout a number of the pieces. With Skymind, that ethnic or folky touch is conveyed through the string section which brings in tinges of Klezmer and Eastern European music especially on Yellow Garden and Blind Child.

The remaining three tracks (Blind Child, The Purple Queen's Lips and Stratus) see the band resorting to a rather similar style of contrasts. The band makes full use of their love of crunching power chords that are responded with the delicacy of the string quartet, which is also augmented by the presence of a flute. Rarely have I come across an album that satisfies my every need in the progressive rock field. With this album it is neatly laid out in front of the listener, be it complexity, strong rhythmic variation, a story line (Yes this is also a concept album!), diversity as well as and more importantly, originality.

Some people have asked for a band that could possibly be a source of reference to Taal and the closest I have managed to possibly attribute them to are early nineties prog-metal band, Mekong Delta who used to introduce a full blown orchestra within their heavy music which had a lot in common with the speed metal of the day. In my opinion, Skymind is one of the top progressive albums of the year and once again Taal have come up trumps and if you like a heavier and intelligent brand of progressive rock, then you should definitely try this album out. You will NOT be disappointed.

Tracklisting:

1. Skymind (9:53)

2. Yellow Garden (7:38)

3. Blind Child (6:10)

4. The Purple Queen's Lips (9:48)

5. The Egg Shapped Moon (9:07)

6. Stratus (13:24)

Total Time: 56:00

Line-Up:

- Anthony Gabard / electric & acoustic guitars

- David Stuart Dosnon / bass

- Loic Bernardeau / acoustic drums & lead vcal

- Igot Polisset / electric & acoustic drums

- Sebastian Constant / keyboards

- Helene Sonnet / Flute & vocal on Blind Child

- Manu Fournier / violin & saxophone

- Gaelle Deblonde / violin

- Manue Bouriaud / viola

- Mehdi Rossignol / cello

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Rating:
2.5 out of 5 by Book123