RPWL: Tales From Outer Space (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

For more than 20 years, RPWL Germans have been travelling through progressive space. Initially cover band of Pink Floyd, they have developed a style more melancholic than dark, with an obvious desire to privilege harmonic accessibility.

"Tales From the Outer Space" stays right in this trend. Unlike the two previous albums, it is not a concept album even if the plot is generally inspired by science fiction, a genre to which the artwork, very typical American comics of the 60's, clearly refers. The least we can say is that from the very first moments, the listener is on familiar ground. Very framed, even: the tracks always play on a mid tempo that will not frighten anyone, the melodies flow obviously and Yogi Lang's voice is still as reminiscent of David Gilmour's with his slightly veiled timbre and his nonchalant speech. Everything is in place to make this "Tales..." a pleasant moment.

But here it is: RPWL snuggled up in a comfortable cocoon, its now proven know-how purring at full speed, avoiding with meticulous care any roughness (even if the riff of 'A New World' shows some rough inclinations), any risk taking. Why change a recipe that works, some will say... This German group is not the only one suffering from the habit syndrome that reproduces the same processes for a long-awaited result. So it is not surprising to feel a vague impression of already heard, for example, 'Not Our Place to Be' or 'What I Really Need' with its little tune of Alan Parsons' Project. The ensemble almost leans towards an AOR of the kind delivered by John Mitchell's Lonely Robot, with a guitar (necessarily) more floydian (the solo of 'A New World', among others).

It is necessary to wait for the rare instrumental passages of the opening track or especially of "Give Birth to the Sun", or the three guitar solos of "Light of the World" which remind us Mostly Autumn, to have the most original part of RPWL's music, with these Manfred Mann-like synth lines which finally bring a little escape on a much too marked route. It is also regrettable to see the longest pieces, which give the best instrumental developments, end up with an unfortunate fade-out.

Threatened by a tendency to numbness, the music of "Tales From the Outer Space" illustrates in a rather demonstrative way what conventional progressive can be. An oxymoron that progressive music lovers don't like to meet, even when it is like here synonymous with a pleasant musical moment. - Official website

RPWL

TALES FROM OUTER SPACE

GENTLE ART OF MUSIC

PROGRESSIVE ROCK