The progressive scene in Poland is very interesting. Spearheaded by Riverside and supported by excellent bands like Votum and Acute, here’s another one. In fact Disperse draw influence from Cynic, Dream Theater and Pink Floyd with this, their second album. Track titles such as “Unbroken Shiver”, “Touch the Golden Cloud” and even “Wow!” – suggest there’s something evocative ahead.
Disperse are a band who are not going to be tied down. After a lush and mellow instrumental opener – a clear reminder there of Riverside – “Enigma of Abode” then takes us to new and more exotic territory. The scene is set and we’ve only just started the second track. Calm vocals belie the smooth and funky performance in the background. There are strong hints of jazz and a cosmic progressiveness about this multi-layered track. Djentiness then opens “Profane the Ground”, placing itself at a deliberate obliqueness with the emotion-ridden vocals and irregular cross-fire of guitar work. It’s like being taking on a progressive journey. A break is followed by an acoustic and djenty mix but it’s quite precise and not experimental. “Profane the Ground” picks up and the vocalist, in his calm way, and supporting guitars guide us into the emotional climax. We fan ourselves down with the cosmic and shivery “Prana”. A delightful rhythm then stands in the background of the haunting and hypnotic “Message from Atlantis”. I do have a criticism – the vocals need more strength. Distant and indistinct, they are drowned out by the musical magic going on here. “Message from Atlantis” ends in musical wonderland, stirring the emotions with heart-wrenching chords. Words are not necessary.
Wow! That’s the title of the next track. It’s just filler before we return to the familiar funky jazz emo prog. It’s Level 42 with oceans of attitude. The rhythm borders on Latin but it’s wrapped and wrapped again in prog. Sound waves then reappear, bewitch us and lead us into the djenty “Unbroken Shiver”. The softly spoken vocalist sounds like he’s chanting. The drum and guitar provide adventure. The urgency of life is captured here and on the exciting “Touching the Golden Cloud” which follows. The kaleidoscope of guitar styles paint pictures on this progressive canvas. The most melancholic piece so far is next in the form of the jazz-inspired “Butoh”. Another languid song is made into something special by the instrumental gymnastics. “Choices for Me” is the cue for the edgy final track “AUM” which combines all the elements of what has gone before: funk, jazz, djent and progressive colour. The vocals come in to add an emotional edge with their reference to “cosmic visions”, a frequent theme. But I was really waiting for the return of those majestic instrumentals, whose layered and unpredictable patterns are for me the highlight of this album. It all ends with a reflective drift into the ether. It’s a nice end.
This could be the sort of album you live and breathe, as it combines many elements and at times dazzling sweeps from one canvas to the next, often overlaying them. I wasn’t convinced about the vocals, however. They were too weak for my liking and weren’t compatible with the monstrous moods and adventurous scenes which the instrumentals created. Vocal issues apart, this was a fine album.
(6.5/10 Andrew Doherty)
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