soniq theater
| Format | CD |
| Country | Germany |
| Recorded | 2000 |
| Issued | 2001 |
| Label | Alfred Müller |
| Cat no. | - |
| Playing time | 60:04 |
| Reviewer | Petrus Bojanowski |
| SONIQ THEATER soniq theater |
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The solo album by Rachel's Birthdays' keyboadist Alfred Müller is an interesting album with enthusiastic, driving music which has its roots largely in progressive and symphonic rock.
Pompous polyrhythmics and driving melodies on several levels are key issues. Details and effects are plenty and exciting.
Large doses og progressive mellotrons, dancing moogs and Hammond, plus piano all make you dream yourself far away into the hypnotic world of the timbres and sounds. Both the choice of sounds and the compositions are both so unique that immediate associations to other artists are hard to catch. A credit to composer and producer Alfred Muller.
Even though the music is instrumental, you find a track with sophisticated 7/8 folk music, sung a with genuine Bulgarian/Finnish feel. Reminds me a lot of the Swedish folk/prog rock band Hedningarna. Odd meters are of course a large advantage. Here they are used perfectly, and not just because they are something compulsory in progressive rock.
An attempt to position the music stylistically through associations bring up the following names: Rick Wakeman, Ayreon, The Enid, Starcastle, Tangerine Dream, Yes, Patrick Moraz, Symphony X, Jon Anderson and the Flower Kings.
The only weak points arrangement-wise are some power guitar and drum samples which are somewhat dated. Track no 10 is kinda hip and dance-like, and could just as well have been dropped, but this is just a small portion of the album, and also a matter of taste.
The music is very symphonic, delightful, creative, catchy, intense and melodic. Even with its unpredictable surprises, the songs are intelligently arranged, with themes built in a very satisfying way. Soniq Theater is heavily recommended to lovers of sophisticated, symphonic progressive rock.
© 2001 Tarkus Magazine