Sky Architect - A Billion Years of Solitude (2013)

Artista: Sky Architect

Álbum: A Billion Years of Solitude
Año: 2013
Género: Rock progresivo / Progresivo ecléctico
Duración: 61:15
Nacionalidad: Holanda

Lista de Temas:
1. The Curious One
2. Wormholes (The Inevitable Collapse Of The Large Hadron Collider)
3. Tides
4. Elegy Of A Solitary Giant
5. Jim's Ride To Hell
6. Revolutions
7. Traveller's Last Candle

Alineación:
- Tom Luchies / vocals, guitars
- Wabe Wieringa / guitars
- Guus van Mierlo / bass
- Christiaan Bruin / drums, backing vocals
- Rik van Honk / keyboards (Mellotron, Grand piano, Hammond organ, Rhodes piano, - Clavinet, Moog synth, Wurlitzer), flugelhorn, trumpet, backing vocals
With:
Maartje Dekker / wineglasses

¡Otra que 100 años de soledad! Estos arquitectos del cielo se animaron a superar la marca, y lo lograron con creces.
En principio voy a presentar a la banda en sí, que no es muy conocida por estas pampas, es una joven banda de los Países Bajos que debutaron en 2010 con su primer trabajo discográfico llamado "Excavations of the Mind" que les sirvió para llamar la atención de los seguidores del género de todo el mundo. Como arquitectos certificados, tienen la capacidad técnica para lograr todo lo que quieran a la perfección (el grupo se conoció mientras estudiaban música en el conservatorio), para sacar una estructura impecable y establecer una base firme, armando una obra compacta pero lo suficientemente ventilada como para mantener todo bien aireado y permitiendo la brisa fresca e inesperada.
Pareciera que la banda está en una misión para demostrar que el rock progresivo no sólo puede ser hermoso, sino también emocionante: salvajemente dirigidos hacia momentos netamente ambientales, extractos de música clásica, o jazz moderno, el rock alternativo, obviamente el rock progresivo y muchos más. Ello le ha permitido a la banda, que aún cuenta con una corta historia y dos álbums anteriores a éste, adentrarse en terrenos propios de las bandas más representativas y aclamadas del género: no solamente con las excelentes críticas sino también tocando en festivales al lado de los dinosaurios progresivos.
Y ahora vamos al disco...




Empecemos a contar que el artwork de la portada ha sido diseñado por el mismo teclista Rik van Honk... como nota de color, pero vamos a lo musical...
Muchos climas, secciones cercanas al metal, pasajes melancólicos, y sin embargo un clima casi siempre alegre, muy buenas instrumentaciones, pero siempre guiados por esas melodías tan dulces (aunque pueden ser potentes) que saben hacer, esta versalidad hace que sus composiciones puedan gustar a cualquiera que guste de la onda de bandas tan disímiles como The Flower Kings, Gentle Giant, Beardfish, Dream Theater o Pain Of Salvation. La temática de las letras está influenciada por los clásicos del cine de ciencia-ficción, sobretodo de los años 60s, y el sonido es algo más intenso respecto a sus previos LP’s, por lo que erróneamente en Proarchives se los clasifique como "Heavy Prog". No son Heavy Prog, solamente que cuando quieren tienen mucha energía. Son como un cruce entre Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, y prog de los 70s pero son sonido actualizado, sin embargo, los muchachos tienen su propio sonido. En "Mil millones de años de soledad", la banda nos da una sensación etérea increíble y casi espiritual, un trabajo con una personalidad fresca y estimulante, con una gran cantidad de contenido emocional surrealista y celestialmente sombrío (no se me ocurre una mejor definición). El vacío del espacio es palpable en todo el álbum, canciones épicas que dejan una gran impresión de soledad, aunque nunca cae en una melancolía completa, la esencia del rock siempre reaparece para llenarnos de energía y calidez.

La exploración rítmica y las estructuras de sus canciones tan eclécticas tienen la singularidad que, aún a pesar de ello, todo tiene una coherencia y homogeneidad que permite, incluso, que sea algo accesible al oído, a pesar de ser una singular experiencia y de los talentos prolíficos que ingenieron este disco, y de buscar tanto desde su arte gráfico como desde su música algo no convencional, a pesar de la capacidad de profundizar en sus trucos armónicos y sacar conejos musicales de sus galeras, hay una accesibilidad sorprendente que no se encuentra en bandas similares. No me refiero a nada comercial, sino un sentido lírico que la habilidad de los músicos une con una sinergia y compañerismo musical, tejiendo un conjunto sin fisuras, transparente, homogéneo y al mismo tiempo fresco y sorprendente a cada paso.

Debo decir que no puedo matizar con ningún comentario en castellano, sencillamente porque no lo encontré, así que éste sería el primer review en lengua hispana. Eso sí, dejo varios comentarios en inglés y podría dejar muchos más, y son todos muy favorables... pero ni falta que hace, escuchen el disco y sabrán por ustedes mismo lo bueno que está. Segurmente uno de los mejores trabajos del 2013 en lo que al estilo se refiere.

'A Billion Years of Solitude' is an album I was drawn to having been so impressed with the masterpiece debut 'Excavations of the Mind", an album that I hailed as one of the greatest of 2010, a labyrinthine musical journey that merges so many styles into its 50 minutes of prog excess. I was in awe of the virtuoso musicianship and no holds barred inventiveness throughout by Sky Architect. So I was really looking forward to more of the same on this recent release, a followup to 'A Dying Man's Hymn' in 2011, that I somehow missed. The lineup of virtuosos consist of Tom Luchies on vocals, guitars, Wabe Wieringa on guitars, Guus van Mierlo on bass, Christiaan Bruin on drums, Rik van Honk on keyboards, Mellotron, Grand piano, Hammond organ, Rhodes piano, Clavinet, Moog synth, Wurlitzer, flugelhorn, trumpet, and Maartje Dekker on the wineglasses.
Again, the sound is similar to Riverside, Haken or Pain of Salvation with smatterings of King Crimson, and Dream Theater. The jazz fusion influences are melded beautifully with metal riffs and gorgeous symphonic passages. The shimmering Hammond staccato crashes are reminiscent of modern prog on the heavier side such as Riverside. You really feel it on 'Wormholes (The Inevitable Collapse Of The Large Hadron Collider). The time sig changes on this track alone are awesome. It moves from a heavy guitar riff to some quirky jazzy guitar and squiggly little effects, impossible to describe really. Then it launches full tilt at ramming speed with a wall of guitars and keys over a relentless hammering drum and bass. The album actually starts with a brilliant epic clocking 18 minutes, 'The Curious One', and this is exceptional by any standards with spacey blistering guitar, manic keyboards, and King Crimsonish basslines all wrapped in one neat little package. 'Tides' is another great track opening with heavy distorted guitar riff and Pink Floyd verses, crystal clean vocals and I love how the riffs collide with the odd musical layers, sounding delightfully off sync. Some nice whimsical flute sections blend into a concoction of noisy overlayed keys and that guitar riff.
This is followed by piano intro and creepy effects on 'Elegy of a Solitary Giant', encompassing a wonderful guitar melody embellished by jaunty keyboards. It switches to fragmented tempo and builds into the first verse of gentle vocals and spacey atmospherics. I love how the metal guitar crashes through so brutally, and the whole psychedelic vibe is glorious. An ethereal section of horns and echoing voices leads into a piano solo, beautiful on its own with a lonely solitude. Then the heavy guitars break through with an incredible power and catchy riff over a fractured signature. There is a screaming freak out of feedback on guitar and brilliant layered lead riffs moving to the next piano solo. A spacey ambience dominates that has a dreamy lulling effect on the senses, reminiscent of the intro to 'Shine On'. The exquisite harmonies are well executed, and cap off a brilliant track that ranks as one of the masterpieces from the band.
This is followed by a shorter track, less than 3 minutes, 'Jim's Ride to Hell'. It opens with slow doomy building lead guitar and then unleashes into fuzzed guitar riffing over a spacey keyboard. Some jaunty blasts of guitar, strong percussion, and an infectious organ phrase dominate and then the instrumental comes to a conclusion. The musicianship is stunning on 'Revolutions', 8 minutes of prog inventiveness, opening with a catchy keyboard hook and some outstanding lead guitar soloing. The bass and drum rhythm complement each other with tight precision as a disordered tempo locks in. It settles into chiming guitar and the welcome return of the vocals. The lyrics are intriguing 'spare us, for us to understand that if we were to last, we'd have to rise and make a stand, we will overcome, we shall be as one spirit, revolution must save us from them so we can never last.' The lead break has a majestic quality and competes with some off beat drum and bass rhythms with shimmering Hammond, and an extended final burst of prog; simply outstanding music by any standard.
The album ends with another epic 'Traveller's Last Candle', running out to 12 and a half minutes. The track meanders along dreamily with ambient passages blurred into heavier guitar treatments and reflective vocals, until we get to the 5:50 mark when an instrumental passage takes over. The guitars are a powerful presence but there is always the keyboard layers and the darker tense moments are balanced with light melancholia. A nice touch is the sound of wineglasses played by Maartje Dekker. Towards the end of the track it moves into odd time sig and a soundscape of guitars with the epic finale feel heard on many a concept album over the years. The feel reminded me of the end of The Beatles' 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)', with loud screaming guitars, distortion and effects. It comes crashing to its conclusion capping off an incredible album.
Sky Architect are a band that somehow encompass everything that I love about prog and in a similar way to the debut, as soon as it is over I immediately want to hear the whole album from the start to end again. The powerful riffs and inventive time sig changes, along with lashings of lead guitar soloing and blasts of quivering Hammond really make this an exceptional listening experience. It is a rare thing to love an album at first listen but I was absolutely floored with this masterful album; from the moment it began it had me hooked. Sky Architect are an outstanding prog band that deserve to receive more exposure in the prog community as they are far superior than a lot of the more popular prog artists out there.

Scott Tuffnell

2013 has been a busy year for Christiaan Bruin - not only did he put out the very capable Days of Summer Gone under his solo alter ego of Chris, but he also served his accustomed role as drummer in Sky Architect for this release. Of the two albums, this is the more traditional- sounding of the two, with standard prog instrumentation and far less in the way of guest appearances and classical musical backing than Days of Summer Gone, but equally it's punchier, heavier, and like Days of Summer Gone it's a charming and instantly accessible album which will entertain most prog fans.

Arthur W.

I'd be the first one to admit that I wasn't a big fan of Sky Architect. Originally, I was excited about them simply because of their style (on paper), their art, and, heck, even their supremely awesome name. However, when I heard "Excavations of the Mind" and "A Dying Man's Hymn" (dang, what is with their amazing naming ability), something ultimately fell flat for me. Well, that is no more. "A Billion Years of Solitude" has finally given me what I always wanted in Sky Architect's sound.
This band is generally very rock-based in their sound. They are definitely like a cross between Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, and other 70's prog. That's the last I will mention other groups, however, as Sky Architect has their own sound. It is richly rocky, spiritually personal, and, with this new release, I can add wonderfully spacey. Yes, I think that's what I was missing in their first two releases: a fleshed-out space rock vibe. In "A Billion Years of Solitude", the band gives us an amazing ethereal vibe involving everything from synth to horns and wine glasses (yes, you read that correctly). This personality is fresh and inspiring, and it joins Tom Luchies' vocals as being an emotional focal point of the band.
The musicians are all noteworthy in their chops ability, certainly. What impresses me the most, however, is the unity of the group. Their sound is very cooperative. Sure, there are plenty of guitar and keyboard solos, but the band is ever behind them to the point where it doesn't seem like showboating. So, this core sound is an awesome foundation for the surreal and celestially somber emotional content that this album brings. This sense of drifting, ever drifting, in the vacuum of space is palpable throughout the album. It leaves quite an impression.
I think there are some obvious favorite tracks here. The opening epic, "The Curious One" is soaked in high-tuned guitar work and funky space vibes. "Elegy of a Solitary Giant" features an amazingly eccentric groove mixed with beautiful piano and sorrowful horns. Lastly, the best song on the album is "Traveller's Last Candle". This epic set piece is structured so well with its rocky vibe that gives way to mournful keyboard interludes. It's truly outstanding, and probably one of the best tracks from 2013.
Sky Architect has made another fan. This album is awesome in every sense. I love the personality that the band has injected into "A Billion Years of Solitude", and the emotion content here has also perked my ears. If you are a prog fan, you need to hear this album.

Jason Spencer

When I first came across this Dutch band and their 2010 debut I was incredibly impressed, feeling that they were taking me back to the days when SI Music was consistently releasing great albums. But now they have stepped it up a notch and are moving quite a way from where they were before. There are still the swathes of keyboards that give a strong Seventies feel as a backdrop to much of what they are doing, but they have obviously been paying attention much more to Dream Theater and have definitely increased the note density. There are times when this is a much more metallic album than they have produced before, but they can just as easily drop into a funk groove or provide us some Riverside or Porcupine Tree touches before going off in yet another direction.
The only term that could ever be used for these guys is "progressive" as they are pushing boundaries in what they are doing, although not exactly King Crimson in approach there are definitely some similarities with their outlook. And whenever you see a flugelhorn listed in the instruments you can pretty much guarantee that you are in for something quite out of the ordinary. When Tom is singing then one wonders why they don't use him in that facility much more, then when they are in full blast as instrumentalists one wonders why they bother with vocals at all. They seem able to put their mind and skills to anything that they want to do, but also manage to keep it reigned in so that the music always still makes sense and doesn't go off onto long meaningless tangents as is always the risk.
Somehow they manage to keep this open and free, not constraining what is going on but letting the music take flight: where some prog bands want to be insular and controlling, these guys act more as conduits and move wherever they are driven. Yet another great release from the flying Dutchmen.

Kev Rowland

Dutch eclectic modern progressive rock band Sky Architect really got my attention with their surprisingly sophisticated and well performed debut album in 2010. I've wondered since then why it was received with such mild enthusiasm.
This third record 'A billion years of solitude' is yet another great modern progressive rock record, but this time a bit more in line with my personal taste. There is more breathing space in the compositions (something a seventies prog listener like me would like) and the drums are playing a more constructive and lively role. The recording sounds a bit more like a live recording and the guitar has a great natural tone, especially when its clean. The composition itself has daring harmonic constructions in interesting rhythmical contexts, some chord-progressions are really original.
The band distinguishes itself from peers like Porcupine Tree, Riverside and the modern Opeth in its interesting sound pallet (even some wind-instruments), its more daring experimentation (sometimes almost avant-prog) and the absence of poppy refrains. Furthermore, the range of dynamics presented in the 18 minute opening track 'The curious one' reminds us a bit of King Crimson's symphonic sound. This is perhaps most apparent on the epic 'Elegy of a solitary giant'. To me Sky Architect has found one of the best mixes of retro and modern progressive sounds. In addition, they sound like a band playing music - an enjoyable feature often missed in modern progressive rock.
This album, though not too light, could hardly be called heavy prog because of its eclectic nature. Genres covered are symphonic prog, jazz-rock, avantprog and spacerock.
Conclusion. Sky Architect really has something original to add to modern progressive rock. Not an easy album to get into perhaps, but I think this album is great for listeners who like there progressive rock with a capital P. It even sounds mystical at times. One of my favorite modern prog records, therefore a full score is well deserved.

Friso

Listening to this album every day for the past three weeks has not changed my initial opinion, though part of my motivation for so many repeat listens was due to the fact that I really wanted to rate this album higher. It's just not meant to be. The album is bookended by two epics--both of which rank among my favorite songs of the year--but the other songs in between fail to rate as highly--they lack anything really special to attract me back in. The two epics, however, "The Curious One" (18:06) (10/10) and "Traveller's Last Candle" (12:43) (9/10) are intriguing for their fresh and rather unique flow--including the blending of some quite unusual styles, from THE TEA CLUB to TANGERINE DREAM to AMPLIFIER to ANUBIS to world music and to I'm-not-sure-where, but it's fun. A group I discovered with their debut and knew I wanted to keep an eye out for their next works--which I have--and I'm glad I have. They have grown and improved. It's just that there's still room for more. (Improvement, that is.)

W. A. Fisher

Listening to this album I can t understand why is so underrated . Nothing to miss from the first albums. Nevertheless this is a band from Netherlands this heavy prog (sometimes RIO ,sometimes psychedelic space rock...) sounds very much like a Scandinavian prog rock bang as Landberk ,ANEKDOTEN, Anglagard...with touches of 70 ies King Crimson. So a very technical prog rock in the lines of the seventies heavy prog rock. So these guys didn't have a reverse step as the many of last ratings or reviews may show. This album is a really piece of art in the heavy prog, space rock or RIO line . So all my applauses to this new album of Sky Architect.

Robert Sargent

I saw this selling on Amazon, and I always wanted to pick up one of their first two albums. I never got around to buying the first two albums, so this is my introduction to this group. Prior to buying it, I looked at progarchives and found two negative reviews. I was surprised since there was so much positive buzz about their other releases. I saw it at progstreaming and gave a listen. I was hooked on the first track an knew that I had to get it. I do not know what the two negative reviews were about, but I heard all of the ingredients of a prog rock release that I enjoyed the most. It had some space rock, some experimental, some eclectic pieces, and lots of heavy prog. I highly recommend this album for every prog collection.

javajeff

From Rotterdam in the Netherlands comes Sky Architect, and their third and latest effort, A Billion Years of Solitude, introduces a space rock/science fiction element into their brand of melodic progressive rock. Hints of Genesis, Porcupine Tree, Hawkwind, Gentle Giant, Eloy, Pink Floyd, Dream Theater, and King Crimson pop up from time to time, especially on the rousing 18-minute opener "The Curious One", which kind of combines all the influences of the band into one killer epic. But, before we really dive into the music, let me report that the current line-up of the band consists of Tom Luchies (vocals, guitars), Wabe Wieringa (guitars), Guus van Mierlo (bass), Christiaan Bruin (drums, backing vocals), and Rik van Honk (keyboards -Mellotron, Grand piano, Hammond organ, Rhodes piano, - Clavinet, Moog synth, Wurlitzer, plus flugelhorn, trumpet, backing vocals).
Back to that opening epic, it's an explosion of space rock and heavy prog musical & lyrical themes, with waves of Mellotron and various keyboards floating over throbs of bass, jagged guitar, intricate drumming, and layered vocals. Gentler than Hawkwind but more explosive than Genesis, it's a perfect half-way meeting point of both styles, and there are some sizzling solos here and plenty of haunting atmosphere. It's easily one of the 'must hear' songs of the year. "Wormholes (The Inevitable Collapse Of The Large Hadron Collider)" is a more rocking piece, but still firmly in the prog camp, reminding at times of Spock's Beard as well as Todd Rundgren's Utopia, and it's a real workout for guitarist Wieringa but also containing some great vocals courtesy of Luchies. "Tides" is one of the shortest tracks on the album, but it's also one of the heaviest, as churning guitar & keyboard riffs blast away over intricate rhythms, eventually giving way to lush acoustic guitar and floating vocals, before succumbing once again to Dream Theater/Gentle Giant styled complex bombast. The mighty Mellotron comes back for the engaging "Elegy of a Solitary Giant", another lengthy number complete with sci-fi drenched lyrics and plenty of spacey sounds, a perfect trip for all the Hawkwind/Eloy/Nektar/Pink Floyd fans in the house. After the quick little heavy space rock instrumental "Jim's Ride to Hell" (an awesome piece that I wish was longer), the band deliver one of the quirkiest numbers on the album, the complex "Revolutions". With plenty of keyboard textures from van Honk and acrobatic guitar from Wieringa, this one is a wild ride that zig zags from intricate prog-rock to ethereal space rock and back again. Closing 13-minute epic "Traveller's Last Candle" is another sci-fi yarn with some incredible musical passages, and the way the band go back and forth between lush atmospheric sections, to spacey explorations, to rumbling, bombastic heavy prog is just amazing.
There have been a lot of excellent albums released here in 2013, and A Billion Years of Solitude certainly is among those and will be looked at closely when people are putting together their 'best of the year' lists. I just love the way this band perfectly meshes heavy progressive rock with the more otherworldly sounds of the space rock genre, making for a truly intoxicating listening experience. Stunning stuff really, and highly recommended.

Pete Pardo

I've lived with A Billion Years Of Solitude by Sky Architect for quite some time now before wanting to share my thoughts – it's that sort of album. Deeply absorbing, slowly revealing, skilfully crafted, yet at times distant and remote. An easy cracking nut, this is not. However on the back of their two previous albums, Excavations Of Mind and A Dying Man's Hymn, in truth you would expect no less.
It could be suggested that in places this amalgam of Prog, both classic and slightly more contemporary, and Space Rock possibly takes itself slightly too seriously, even for this genre and that in places there's an suspicion that Sky Architect are a band "trying too hard". However those observations could also be viewed as nit pickingly difficult on my part. So suffice to say that if you are searching for even the slightest hint of levity in your music, this could be hard going. That said, serious Prog heads will simply scoff at that suggestion and dive head first into this complex, rich affair. The album is inspired by the sci-fi movies from the 50s and 60s and while that ethos of uninhibited adventure and naive hope does come through, this is far from b-movie fare.
Sky Architect are a band capable of rolling out the lengthy epics and interspersing them with short infectious, impacting bursts. Three songs on ABYOS laugh in the face of ten minutes, with opener "The Curious One" - in many ways the centre piece and standard bearer for this album, diving headlong into luscious vocal interplay, jostling jazzy outcries, searing six-string solos and crazed keyboards. That it is all brought together through a mix of full pelt Prog aggression and considered introspection makes the journey across over eighteen minutes of music an uncompromising pleasure – once you have experienced it a number of times.
The other lengthy tracks, "Elegy Of A Solitary Giant" and "Traveller's Last Candle", continue down a similar path, elements of swooshing Spaceyness being mere jumping off points into more focused and succinct guitar forays and vocal passages. Both know how to ease off the peddle, in a Porcupine Tree kind of jazz-prog manner and both can challenge you to keep up. However the rewards if you do so are plain to hear.
The shorter tracks, "Jim's Ride To Hell" - a suitably frantic two minute roar, "Tides" a funky three minute slice, on their own don't always amount to much, but in context with the rest of the album actually act as clever diversions from less immediate outings. That's not to suggest that you'll end up humming the likes of "Wormholes (The Inevitable Collapse Of The Hadron Collider)", or "Revolutions", for good those these and the other tracks are, nothing here is "catchy" in that sort of fashion.
In some ways what Sky Architect have created here is an old fashioned, backward looking serving of Prog values, in others, this is an album which is as cutting edge as this genre can be. Combined you are left with something Prog lovers will indeed love and those who are not, will scratch their heads over. Me? I've not an itch in sight.

Steven Reid

Te invito a que te sumes a la experiencia de flotar por el espacio por unos millones de años, o escuchar este disco mientras recuerdas algunas viejas películas de ciencia ficción que quizás hayas visto o imaginado. sea como sea, la experiencia que brinda este álbum es altamente positiva, disfrutable, enalteciendo los sonidos y halagando al oído. Un discazo que no puedo dejar de recomendar... no se lo pierdan!
Tienen todo el fin de semana para disfrutar esta joyita.