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So! First of all, it is noticeable that we are dealing with very playful prog rock; the classic forward-driven rock riff in 4/4 time is rarely found here. Instead, there are clean guitar sounds, sometimes layered with effects, and long instrumental passages between melancholic vocal parts. Melancholic, but not in an emo or wave manner, rather like how grunge or alternative rock in the 90s were not sunshine music, without having to be a sob story soundtrack. Sometimes the vocals remind me of Jimi Hendrix. The fact that this is also a concept album about separation, loneliness, and alienation is reflected in the English lyrics, which, by the way, are not always easy to understand without the booklet.
I needed two attempts before I could really connect with the music, but there are truly beautiful melodies and harmonies hidden within, and I suspect that more layers will unfold with repeated listening. GUNASH skillfully avoids the classic prog trap of complicated instrumental wankery for the sake of complexity. The great art lies in making difficult things sound simple, so that they flow seamlessly without painfully feeling the seams. Almost always, the songs and transitions feel coherent, and on three tracks, the organ of producer Rami Jaffee (known as a member of FOO FIGHTERS and THE WALLFLOWERS) serves as a secret weapon, beautifully holding the pieces together and adding atmospheric density. Very rarely does it feel like two parts were somewhat arbitrarily glued together; most of the time, it goes smoothly into the ear if you are open to the playful compositions. The loud/quiet dynamics are also well balanced; there is no attempt to suddenly scream everything down with maximum distorted guitar after an acoustic section—this trick has already been quite overused. Everything has its place; you can tell that a lot of experience and many ideas are involved. In fact, I feel that the band could easily record a pop album but enjoys mixing unlikely elements into their own style more. This album is probably not to everyone's taste. However, if you give it time to unfold, it contains beautiful moments and surprises.
