We've become accustomed to Polish prog sounding morose and forlorn, and with an album titled The Last Sunrise, I was expecting more of the same from Xanadu. So imagine my surprise upon pushing play and hearing the aggressive intro to "Piece of Mind," a reassuring four-minute rocker about finding solace in an emotional space no one else can occupy — "my own private wonderland," as vocalist Mish Jarski sings. His heavily accented voice adds an additional layer to this dense and atmospheric music, which borrows from Polish prog heroes Riverside without descending into quite so much darkness.
The two strongest songs also are the album's two longest cuts: "Violent Dream – Part 1," a 10-minute instrumental workout that shows off Xanadu's musical colors and shades, and the title track, another soaring 10-minute epic that adds acoustic guitars and keyboards. Both succeed at proclaiming this outfit ready to compete with its better-known (and more-depressed) countrymen.
Worth noting: This version of Xanadu is a relaunch of a same-named band from the Nineties, with drummer Hubert Murawski as the link between them.
Track Listing:
1) Piece of Mind
2) Dark Shadows
3) Miles Away
4) Violent Dream – Part 1
5) One Moment
6) Vicious Circle
7) The Last Sunrise
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
