HYPNOS 69 - THE ECLECTIC MEASURE (2006) cz.2
During the second edition of the Dutch Symforce Festival this weekend I enjoyed the gigs by Magic Pie, The Watch and Alquin but only one band really blew me away, the Belgian formation Hypnos 69, what a dynamics and enthousiasm. Soon after the concert I rushed towards the Hypnos 69 'stand' and bought their latest effort entitled The Eclectic Measure. Initially Hypnos 69 has disbanded but due to the many positive reactions on their latest album the band decided to re-unite, we should be glad about that and I am gonna tell you why.
Listening to The Eclectic Measure I notice obvious hints of the pivotal first King Crimson album (from dreamy with Mellotron to violent with propulsive interplay, fiery guitar and powerful saxophone), the track Ominous (But Fooled Before) even sounds like a variation on 21st Century Schizoid Man but the blend of Hammond organ, violin-Mellotron and Glockenspiel gives this song a special flavor. During my first listening session Hypnos 69 their sound reminded me not only of KC but more and more of (King Crimson inspired) Swedish formation Anekdoten because of the tension between mellow, compelling and violent interludes, the intense vocals, the fiery guitarwork, the propulsive rhythm-section and the frequent use of the Mellotron. But these are subjective musical observations, I would like to emphasize that Hypnos 69 delivers very pleasant and varied, often compelling and dynamic progrock. On this CD we can enjoy 10 strong and varied compositions: between propulsive and compelling with wonderful Hammond and Mellotron waves and splendid guitar (from bluesy to Cry Baby wah-wah drenched guitar solos) in the alternating titletrack, bombastic with a heavy rhythm-section, powerful saxophone, fiery guitar and a lush Hammond organ sound in The Antagonist, warm acoustic guitar and vocals, majestic violin-Mellotron and a Lucky Man-like synthesizer solo in Halfway To The Stars, from dreamy and compelling to bombastic with a surprising piece of flamenco guitar and howling electric guitar in the exciting The Point Of No Return and a great build-up and grand finale in the mindblowing final song Deus Ex Machina, from dreamy with Fender Rhodes electric piano and spacey slide guitar to breathtaking interplay between sensitive electric guitar and violin-Mellotron, goose bumps!
I am very glad that I was able to visit the Hypnos 69 gig, otherwise I still would have been unaware of this outstanding Belgian band that has made captivating progrock on their fourth album, highly recommended to King Crimson and Anekdoten fans and Heavy Prog aficonados!
erik neuteboom
I guess that this band belongs to the new wave of "space and psychedelic" bands like "Oceansize" for instance.
Strong and heavy sounds combined with pleasant melodies, even spacey moments (but not too much of these). The title track is therefore very instructive of their style. A highlight. This album flirts with heavier sounds ("The Eclectic Measure") and at times with some Van Der Graaf Generator ones ("I And You & Me" part two).
The beauty and grandeur of a song as "Forgotten Souls" will leave you breathless as I am, I guess. Whispering vocals à la "Riverside", superb bass (but this is one of their TM). Great mellotron lines (I guess that "Anekdoten" are not alien to the renaissance of this great instrument).
A short instrumental break featuring sweet sax will be your transition to "The Antagonist" which is rather .different. Wild, wild, wild. But the band has already cope with these violent moods. If ever you like some energetic beats, you'll be lucky. Almost hard-rocking. And good one. Dynamite, my friends!
If ever you happen to like "Schizoid", then check out for "Ominous". Vocals especially. This is another of their powerful piece of music from this album which shares many of them. These guys are quite interesting and should deserve more of your attention. Only for reviews for this very good album is not fair. And half of those come from Belgian reviewers.Come on!
And the next "Point Of No Return" has more to do with PT than with "Kansas" of course (this should have been Know Return otherwise.). And those mellotron sounds during "Deus Ex-Machina" (no relation either with this Italian band) are so glorious, beautiful, splendid.OK, I'll stop here. Well, just let me tell you that the finale is fantastic.
If ever "Oceansize", "Porcupine Tree" or "Anekdoten" are amongst of your fave bands, this Belgian one needs your attention (and I'm not telling this because "Hypnos 69" is one of the very few good bands currently available form my musically desert country (but we do have beers, chocolates, Bruges, Justine Henin, Jacques Brel, Eddy Merckx etc.). I haven't listened to such a good Belgian album since "Jester" from "Machiavel". But this was in 1978.
Four solid stars.
ZowieZiggy
..::TRACK-LIST::..
1. I and You and Me (I) (1:26)
2. The Eclectic Measure (6:56)
3. Forgotten Souls (3:45)
4. My Ambiguity of Reality (1:55)
5. The Antagonist (3:56)
6. Halfway to the Stars (3:38)
7. I and You and Me (II) (6:25)
8. Ominous (but fooled before) (5:41)
9. The Point of no return (7:42)
10. Deus Ex Machina (6:57)
..::OBSADA::..
Steve Houtmeyers - vocals, electric & acoustic guitars, theremin, synth
Steven Marx - tenor & baritone saxophones, clarinet, Fender Rhodes, Hammond, Mellotron
Tom Vanlaer - bass, Hammond, Fender Rhodes, Moog Taurus
Dave Houtmeyers - drums, percussion, timpani, glockenspiel, synths
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6y0qO5ihDs
