Her music moves through a sometimes brittle, often intensely refreshing landscape of sounds that activate sweeping and powerful images. This is to music what those wonderful Roger Dean designs were to 70s prog rock covers successfully opening doors in the imagination that had so far remained boringly shut.
The opening title track sparkles and shines whilst “Pixie Space Rock” transports us off into the misty distance of some undiscovered land. “Arteline” is delicately poised in between fragility and confident elegance. Elisa has the ability to continually lure you, like a siren, to the rocks by introducing recurring melody whilst pushing back the boundaries of exploration.
“Slow Bass Flute” sits aloft with its hazy melancholy dreamily creating an almost spiritual emotion. Her single “The Garden” is deceptively complex as she takes us ever deeper into the maze. By the time the last track “Warn Plate” arrives you awake refreshed and ready to return again.
This is a talent well worth keeping your ears and mind open for. Please have a look at her MySpace page where you can listen to her work.
Factory Of Dreams – A Strange Utopia (ProgRock Records)
Portugal’s symphonic metal gothic band Factory Of Dreams made their debut in 2008 with the album Poles. For the second album, the multi instrumentalist Hugo Flores again covers guitar, bass, keys and programming whilst Jessica Lehto adds her impressive and often operatic, goth vocals. For the album they also add some impressive guests.
A Strange Utopia is rich with sweeping drama that ranges from the spine chillingly atmospheric through to the warmth of lusciously written melody. Huge orchestral effects ensure that this album will grab your attention from the moment “Voyage To Utopia” launches the whole operatic trip.
Jessica can deliver soaring operatics one moment and then as with “Sonic Sensations” soothe us down just as effectively. Tracks such as the constantly shifting “The Road Around Saturn” and the seductive eastern undercurrent of “Dark Utopia” successfully spark the imagination.
The twelve track album ends with the near ten minute “E-Motions” which brings together Hugo’s vast range of elements in dramatic style whilst expertly showcasing Jessica’s vocals.
The album comes with two bonus tracks “Broken” and the radio edit of “The Weight Of The World”. For fans of the likes of Nightwish. Further details can be found on the website.
This Misery Garden – Another Great Day On Earth (ProgRock Records)
I love the title of this album and my admiration doesn’t stop there. Formed in 2005 in Geneva, Switzerland, This Misery Garden made their debut the following year with a demo release that attracted a lot of enthusiastic attention. Best described as a dark rock/metal band their influences seem to lie in the Tool, Perfect Circle, and Katatonia field.
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