Music Banter - View Single Post - Welcome to Trollheart's Fortress of Prog!

Trollheart · 12-20-2020, 06:52 PM

Album title: From the Days of Deucalion, Chapter I
Artist: Leap Day
Nationality: Dutch
Year: 2013
Chronology: 3
The Trollheart Factor: 1

Track Listing: Ancient Times/Signs on the 13th/Changing Directions/Insects/Hurricane/Ambrosia/Haemus/Lilts Doots Nus - Sun Stood Still

Comments: As you’ll work out from the graphic above, this is an album I was not impressed with when I first heard it, and here I’m giving it one last chance. I have to admit, a band called Leap Day doesn’t start me off on the right foot, but I try not to be prejudiced and will give it my best. The opener is a short instrumental, slow kind of jazzy number on guitar, not bad, then the next one sounds like it has promise, big build-up and the vocals don’t start till halfway in. Pleasant enough. Nicely constructed. No complaints so far; gets quite Alan Parsons-y near the end, which for me is no bad thing. Slips nicely into “Changing Directions”, tempo rising somewhat, nice Hammond work, has a kind of Yes/Asia feel to it in ways, touches of Kansas too.

“Insects” starts off with whistling, thunder, nice acoustic guitar opening, gives me a feeling of Big Big Train or early Genesis. Insect buzzing comes in and the track takes on new life, speeding up with a sort of dramatic flair. This is the longest track at just over eleven minutes, and it’s pretty damn cool to be honest. It segues perfectly into the next one, given that it’s called “Hurricane” and the previous ends on the sound of thunder. This however is a much more rocky track, almost heavy psych/blues in its way with quite the shouted vocal, a change for the singer. It is, however, the first one I can’t say I like. Just a little jarring after what they’ve been putting out. Even the Genesisesque keys can’t save this one I’m afraid.

Yeah, well, “Ambrosia” kind of keeps up the sudden dip in quality. I mean, there are nice passages in the song, but it feels as if the album is sliding badly; maybe this is where I decided I didn’t like it. Often the decision, for me anyway, can be coloured by the last few tracks I listen to. Not always the case but sometimes. And it continues into the pretty awful “Haemus” which I just can’t get my head around musically at all. Boo. That’s three poor songs in a row, leaving only one to potentially save an album I was very much beginning to believe I had judged too harshly. Man, this is like something Deep Purple would have rejected from their set list.

Thunder is back for the closer, the very oddly titled “Lilts Doots Nus - Sun Stood Still” - I assume the first is Dutch and the second a translation into English? Anyway, it’s a bit ambient, which is nice, some expressive guitar and soft piano, and I’m guessing it may be an instrumental? It’s an instrumental.

Track(s) I liked: Ancient Times/Signs on the 13th/Changing Directions/Insects

Track(s) I didn't like: “Hurricane”, “Ambrosia”, “Haemus”

One standout: “Changing Directions”

One rotten apple: “Haemus”

Overall impression: Torn on this one. I was definitely beginning to rethink it and then the last few tracks put me back on my original rating of the album. I really don’t know, but I don’t think I’ve changed my mind.

Rating: 6/10

Verdict: The jury has gone to lunch and will probably be sequestered in a hotel for a few days at least.

Future Plan: Not sure as yet.

12-20-2020, 06:52 PM	#42 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: From the Days of Deucalion, Chapter I Artist: Leap Day Nationality: Dutch Year: 2013 Chronology: 3 The Trollheart Factor: 1 Track Listing: Ancient Times/Signs on the 13th/Changing Directions/Insects/Hurricane/Ambrosia/Haemus/Lilts Doots Nus - Sun Stood Still Comments: As you’ll work out from the graphic above, this is an album I was not impressed with when I first heard it, and here I’m giving it one last chance. I have to admit, a band called Leap Day doesn’t start me off on the right foot, but I try not to be prejudiced and will give it my best. The opener is a short instrumental, slow kind of jazzy number on guitar, not bad, then the next one sounds like it has promise, big build-up and the vocals don’t start till halfway in. Pleasant enough. Nicely constructed. No complaints so far; gets quite Alan Parsons-y near the end, which for me is no bad thing. Slips nicely into “Changing Directions”, tempo rising somewhat, nice Hammond work, has a kind of Yes/Asia feel to it in ways, touches of Kansas too. “Insects” starts off with whistling, thunder, nice acoustic guitar opening, gives me a feeling of Big Big Train or early Genesis. Insect buzzing comes in and the track takes on new life, speeding up with a sort of dramatic flair. This is the longest track at just over eleven minutes, and it’s pretty damn cool to be honest. It segues perfectly into the next one, given that it’s called “Hurricane” and the previous ends on the sound of thunder. This however is a much more rocky track, almost heavy psych/blues in its way with quite the shouted vocal, a change for the singer. It is, however, the first one I can’t say I like. Just a little jarring after what they’ve been putting out. Even the Genesisesque keys can’t save this one I’m afraid. Yeah, well, “Ambrosia” kind of keeps up the sudden dip in quality. I mean, there are nice passages in the song, but it feels as if the album is sliding badly; maybe this is where I decided I didn’t like it. Often the decision, for me anyway, can be coloured by the last few tracks I listen to. Not always the case but sometimes. And it continues into the pretty awful “Haemus” which I just can’t get my head around musically at all. Boo. That’s three poor songs in a row, leaving only one to potentially save an album I was very much beginning to believe I had judged too harshly. Man, this is like something Deep Purple would have rejected from their set list. Thunder is back for the closer, the very oddly titled “Lilts Doots Nus - Sun Stood Still” - I assume the first is Dutch and the second a translation into English? Anyway, it’s a bit ambient, which is nice, some expressive guitar and soft piano, and I’m guessing it may be an instrumental? It’s an instrumental. Track(s) I liked: Ancient Times/Signs on the 13th/Changing Directions/Insects Track(s) I didn't like: “Hurricane”, “Ambrosia”, “Haemus” One standout: “Changing Directions” One rotten apple: “Haemus” Overall impression: Torn on this one. I was definitely beginning to rethink it and then the last few tracks put me back on my original rating of the album. I really don’t know, but I don’t think I’ve changed my mind. Rating: 6/10 Verdict: The jury has gone to lunch and will probably be sequestered in a hotel for a few days at least. Future Plan: Not sure as yet. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 01-17-2023 at 08:41 AM.