Artist: Sky Architect
Label: Progrock Records
Release: 2010
Length: 50:56
Rating: 4.5/5
Music to the youth! That’s right, it’s high time the progressive rock scene stopped being carried by just the old guys from the seventies. Truth be told, the whole point of progressive rock is to keep moving forward, always and everywhere (a fitting Slovenian word for progressive rock could easily have been “napredni rock”, literally “forward rock”). It’s music that gets rediscovered again and again, that keeps hunting for fresh, previously untouched elements and ingredients, that has to outrun time while redefining, changing and improving itself right alongside it. A big chunk of the prog market is stuffed with all kinds of “retro-prog” bands that are pleasant enough to listen to, but in my opinion that’s not progressive rock. Seventies progressive rock, sure, but not the progressive rock of today. Only a few bands from that era that are still active stick to the true progressive form — I could probably count them on one hand (take Van der Graaf Generator, who reflected the period in which it was made with every album). Meanwhile, the market, which is financially unfriendly, is opening up to young bands and their idea of modern progressive rock. Among the more successful ones are Porcupine Tree, The Mars Volta and Opeth, who proved that music following the prog trend still has plenty left to discover. That’s also the vision of yet another young, promising modern prog band, the Dutch outfit Sky Architect.
Sky Architect are a quintet of young guys, rounding out the lineup with two guitars, bass, keyboards, drums and vocals. The band started out as an instrumental trio, but by 2008 they were already a full lineup, which is when their debut “Excavations of the Mind” was recorded. It only came out in 2010, though. Their music is closer to heavy progressive rock, but that’s probably just the modern direction of prog — a bit more of a hard rock influence. Still, the record has plenty of psychedelic moments, melancholic-dark but mellow chorus sections, and a few “retro” touches that bring to mind the seventies and the prog heroes of that time.
“Excavations of the Mind” has eight tracks stretching across a good 50 minutes. It’s a concept album about mental disorders messing with the mind of one man. The album shines with excellent lyrics, especially in the first four chapters of the “Deep Chasm” suite, which also holds my personal favorite on the record, “Deep Chasm pt. II: Chime”. This is a track where everything the band set out to do comes together incredibly, along with those fateful moments that sneak into the music “from above”. With fantastic ad hoc vocals and instrumental backing, we’re truly transported into the labyrinth of a wrecked mind with no way out, where there are countless paths and we can be anywhere at any moment. All of the music stays within the bounds of progressive rock (which is already wide enough for tons of genre-hopping), but with clear crossings into all kinds of territories of the progressive genre, the band perfectly illustrates the concept they were after. With the occasional retro touch, but mostly with a big effort to define prog rock for a new, modern era. Which is, without a doubt, pulled off successfully.
With their debut, Sky Architect have created one of the most defining modern progressive rock albums. This is, finally, a creative, fresh, gorgeous creation by youngsters who know how to appreciate musical roots, but who rely on their own outlook, their own interpretation of musical progress, their own creativity. They’ve finally dared to leave the golden progressive seventies behind and are looking for new solutions for the new era that’s been announcing itself for so long. And now it’s finally here.
Music to the youth! That’s right, it is time for the youth to take the pedestal of progressive rock music from the oldsters of the 70’s era. Truth be told, the basic purpose of progressive rock music is to progress always and anywhere. Prog rock is the kind of music that must not stand still, that must be rediscovered at every given moment, that is always on a lookout for fresh and previously unused elements and ingredients, that has to go ahead of time and together with it redefine, change and better itself. A huge part of progressive rock market is full of those so-called “retro-prog” groups that are easy on the ear, but are not, in my opinion, progressive (rock). Sure, they are progressive rock of the 70’s, but definitely not progressive rock of today. There is only so much bands from that time that are still truly progressive that I can count them with only one hand (e.g. Van der Graaf Generator, who have defined every era of prog rock with each new album). But the market, though financially unkind, is opening up for young bands and their ideas of modern progressive rock. Amongst successful modern prog bands are e.g. Porcupine Tree, The Mars Volta and Opeth, who proved that there is a lot to uncover in the genre of progressive rock. That is also the vision of another young and promising band, Sky Architect from the Netherlands.
Sky Architect is made up of five youngsters, who round their group with two guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, drums and vocals. The band had started out as an instrumental trio, but was in their full formation by the time their debut “Excavations of the Mind” was recorded, which was in 2008. The record, however, did not get released by 2010. Their music is closer to heavy progressive rock, which is a probable guideline of the modern progressive music – higher correlation with hard rock. Nonetheless there are many psychedelic moments, melancholic and dark elements and even relaxed and easy choruses, all topped off with some “retro-prog” inputs.
“Excavations of the Mind” consists of eight tracks, which last for about 50 minutes. The album is conceptual and is about psychological disorders that are playing with this guy’s mind (as the title suggests). The record is full of great lyrics, especially in the first four parts of “Deep Chasm”, where I found my personal favourite, “Deep Chasm II: Chime”. This is a song where everything connects. All those concepts that were planned and even some of those sent from “above”. With fantastic ad hoc vocals and instrumentals we are transported into a maze of this destroyed man’s mind, from which there is no escape, where there is an infinite number of passages, ways, but none of them leads out. Although all the music is within the boundaries of progressive rock (which alone is wide enough for mixing various genres and styles), there is much fusion, much goings into “foreign” turves of other genres, which serves the band’s concept. With a few “retro” elements, but mostly with tries to define the progressive rock of this modern era. Which is, without a doubt, masterfully done.
With their debut, Sky Architect created one of the most defining records of modern progressive rock. We are finally looking at creative, fresh, wonderful creativity of youth, who can appreciate music roots, but are relying on their own visions, their own interpretation of music progress, their own creativity. The golden 70’s of progressive rock are finally left behind and we are looking at a new era. The era of Sky Architect.
Lineup
Wabe Wieringa – guitars
Chistiaan Bruin – drums
Rik van Honk – keyboards
Tom Luchies – vocals, guitars
Guus van Mierlo – bass guitar
Production
Wabe Wieringa
Tracklist
1. Deep Chasm (Part. I) (3:38)
2. Deep Chasm (Part. II) (8:03)
3. Deep Chasm (Part. III) (0:42)
4. Deep Chasm (Part. IV) (6:44)
5. The Grey Legend (12:11)
6. Russian Wisdom (5:04)
7. Excavations Of the Mind (11:43)
8. Gyrocopter (2:53)
