BROTHER APE

There’s always a part of you that wonders when a band makes such an outstanding and original album, whether they can better it on their next release, but following Brother Ape’s 2008 album “III”, there is no question that the Swedish trio have certainly ticked all the right boxes in terms of musicianship, songwriting, originality and production with 'Turbulence' to create one of the most stand-out albums of 2009. The album kicks off with ‘Welcome Future’, with its sitar-esque guitar and orchestrals, gradually morphing into a fantastic fast-paced drum and bass rhythm that forms the basis of the track - something of a trademark, rhythmically, for the band - and then you’re transported along the beautifully melodic, upbeat (and dare I say it, potentially danceable) remainder of the track, layered with the soaring yet simple vocals and rich guitarwork of Stefan Damicolas. This is also particularly prominent during the epic nine and a half minute ‘No Return’, an especially outstanding track, including a guitar solo easily equalling the technicality and beauty of those created by Vai or Gilmour, that I could leave on loop for hours and still not tire of it. Max Bergman’s drumming seems to take on a whole new lease of life on this album, creating yet more truly original rhythms never heard before on a ‘prog’ album and the keyboards and slightly distorted groovy bass lines of Gunnar Maxen give the songs great drive and impact. Subtely interspersed with calmer and more emotive tracks such as ‘No More’ and ‘Early’, this is a true journey of an album, and a damned enjoyable one too, that never tires, as each listen unveils another layer that you hadn’t noticed before. The only reason for this album not receiving a 10 out of 10 is that with their track record of progressing further and further with each album, I truly believe that Brother Ape can develop even more as a band and that they can stun us once more with their next release, and I for one cannot wait to hear it.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Progress Records

Album

TURBULENCE

Review by Hannah Sylvester

RUNNING TIME:

56:55

RELEASE DATE:

16th Oct 2009

TRACK LISTING

1) Welcome Future
2) Footprints
3) No More
4) Who Will Be Next
5) Early
6) Turbulence
7) No Return
8) Autostrada
9) Lifeprints

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Sweden

"...the Swedish trio have certainly ticked all the right boxes in terms of musicianship, songwriting, originality and production with 'Turbulence' to create one of the most stand-out albums of 2009."