Band : Birds And Buildings

Album Title : Bantam To Behemoth

Label : Emkog Records

Distributor :

Release Date : 25 /03/2008

Review : CD

Dan Britton (keyboards, guitars) is known already for his previous bands Cerebus Effect and Deluge Grander . ( read review August In The Aurals 26.02.08 )    Here he has created another project with Malcolm McDuffie (drums, trumpet, viola ), Brian Falkowsk i (saxes, flute clarinet) and Brett d'Anon (bass, guitar) which plays on Deluge Grander as well.

Birds And Buildings takes influences from a wide range of various progressive rock bands such as King Crimson, Univers Zero, Anglagard , PMF, Magma, Presence, Gentle Giant , Aka Moon,… , . This can be heard on their debut Bantam To Behemoth that reveals a technically competent and tight bunch of musicians. The songwriting is incredible and varies from very beautiful (“Caution congregates and forms a storm” and ” Chronicle of the invisible river of stone” ) to very Magma tic (“Birds flying into buildings” and “Battalion”) and to almost canterbury influenced and symphonic (“ Tunguska ”). “ Yucatan 65” . features lots of flamenco guitar complete with key-changes and several good riffs and flute melodies. “Battalion” is juicy and powerful, almost free jazz heavy at occasions, but always symphonic and grandiose by incredible piano work.

A strong album, although a few passages of it may seem to wander a bit.

91/100

Cosmicmasseur.