Band : Beardfish

Album Title : Sleeping In Trafic Part Two

Label : Inside Out

Distributor : SPV - CNR

Release Date : 19/05/2008

Review : CD

It's hard to beat these Inside Out bands. These guys are kick ass musicians... the compositions are intricately constructed... and there's plenty here for fans of progressive rock that mixes the neo & 70s prog rock realms to drool over. Fans of Rush, Pendragon , IQ, Gentle Giant, Supertramp , Marillion , Zappa, King Crimson, Ritual, The Tangent, Wig Wam , The Flower Kings, Porcupine Tree, ect .... step right this way . This Swedish outfit serve up heaping portions of free flowing played progressive rock that is highly accessible yet has just enough structural and thematic complexity to give the thoughtful listener plenty to digest.

Sleeping In Traffic: Part Two sees Beardfish continue the story which they began in 2007 on SIT: Part One. The storyline: 24 hours in a person's life, from one sunrise to the next. Sleeping In Traffic: Part One is the day and Sleeping In Traffic: Part Two the night, ending with the suite “Sleeping In Traffic” which is a dream, basically,

Among the standout tracks is “South of the border” with its blazing, complex rock structures that communicate a sense power and intensity.The track starts off somewhat orchestrated in a Zappa way, but has a frenzied Frippin ' pace. Magnus Östgren's drumming is wonderful throughout the album, but truly shines here. Band leader Rikard Sjöblom generally provides all the clear voices, which are breathtaking while the music is a more guitar oriented progfest with the keyboards, mellotron and piano being regaled to a more subtle level. “ Sleeping in traffic” (35.44) is the longest track and it combines many moodswings and styles as the music unfolds and the musical artistry on this song is well worth experiencing. The title track is a slowly building piece that twists and winds its way upon layers of languid, jangling guitars all the way to a gloriously mind-bending climax which comes alive with warmth, The band hasn't lost their sense of flat-out weirdness (the disco hit “Staying alive” and the polka themes)  that has prevailed in their recordings since their early days. l get to hear some excellent rolling runs from the bass player that gets my head bopping. LOTS going on here... and it's all got a epic heavy 70s groove to it as well.

This is what Mike Portnoy of Dre am Theater said about Beardfish :

”Swedish' Beardfish are my favorite new band with an old sound. Utilizing all of the classic styles and sounds of the original progessive rock bands of the 70's ( mellotron , hammond organ, leslies, clean guitars, dry organic drums, etc.), these guys are making music for the folks who truly miss the classic bands that started this whole genre. Check out their latest releases Sleeping in Traffic - Parts 1 & 2 and you'll swear it's 1973 all over again!”

Sleeping In Traffic Part Two will no doubt make an essential addition to your collection.

90/100

Cosmicmasseur.