Artland - Between The Sky And Earth

Year of Release: 2001
Label: independent
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 42:42:00

I have to be the first to admit it. The moment I learned that I was about to review an album from an Israeli band, I was pretty surprised. Not that I question Israel's capability of producing great musicians, as the country has given the world some truly excellent classical music interpreters, but let's face it ... Israel is not exactly known for being a progressive rock hotbed. With all impeding preconceptions set aside, however, I went to get myself something to munch on, sat back comfortably, and pushed "Play" on my CD player while calling on the phone to see if my date with Eva Herzigova was still on a go when the quirky percussive background of "Vote Of Heavens" suddenly made me hang up.

Alright, alright, it's 3:37 AM; it's not the first time that I've listened to Between The Sky And Earth and I sure as hell am not going out on a date with Eva Herzigova, but the quirky percussive background of "Vote Of Heavens" did warrant my undivided attention (and of course, I did push "Play" on my CD player). A good thing, too, as the track is the best piece of the entire record, featuring an interesting set of variations surrounded by cool percussion, pleasant guitar melodies, and a killer guitar solo by Sergey Nikolaev that grinds above a heavy progressive harshness reminiscent of King Crimson.

Why three frogs [points] then? Good one, now please have some patience and let me explain myself instead of interrupting me midway through my rant. Let's start by presenting a quick and coldly analytical view of the album:

-Originality: Check.
-Solid production: Check.
-Coherent instrumental structure: Check.
-Tone: Check.
-Feeling: Check.
-General ability: Check.
-Spark: Missing.

There you have it, see? If you didn't go ahead and interrupt me every time I talk about Eva Herzigova you'd get your reasons all the same ... actually, thinking about it, do interrupt me every time I talk about Eva Herzigova ... I think that's what the psychologist said at any rate.

Anyway, getting back to the review ... Artland is indeed a band with plenty of potential, and people who are interested in the likes of Mind Gallery may very well take a liking to what the Israeli band has to offer, as the general approach and attitude are in the same vein. Unfortunately, however Between The Sky And Earth also fails to set Artland in the same plane as a band like Mind Gallery. Granted, there is not a single bad instrumental on the entire album, the amount of talent present is immediately obvious, and the record is a nice collection of music to listen to, but it also falls under the category of records in which the listener keeps waiting and waiting for something exciting to come out of the blue after a favorable first impression; something that never quite happens.

Similar artists: Mind Gallery, Jadis, Djam Karet

Tracklisting:
Vote Of Heavens (6:32) / Real Peace (old version) (6:29) / It Will Be Still Good (5:51) / Travel To Life (8:41) / Something Lyrical (7:55) / Real Peace (remix) (7:14)

Musicians:
Patrick Losinsky - buitar, electronic percussion and drums, samples and loops
Alex Tantsiurah - keyboards
Sergey Nikolaev - guitar
Sandy Bagnov - bass

Discography:
Between The Sky And Earth (2001)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin IL

Added: November 17th 2002
Reviewer: Marcelo Silveyra
Score:
Artist website: www.geocities.com/artland_2000/
Hits: 2127
Language: english