PSYCHIC EQUALIZER: Revealed Ii (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Originally a solo project of the Spaniard Hugo Selles, a classically trained pianist, who released 3 albums/EPs between 2011 and 2017, Psychic Equalizer really takes on a group dimension in 2019 with the release of "The Sixth Extinction" where Hugo Selles is joined by the Australian India Hooi (vocals and various instruments), the Colombian Carlos Barragán (guitars) and Adrian Ubiaga, another Spaniard, on keyboards. If this first album is still mainly instrumental and shared between rock, ambient, jazz and classical music, the EP which follows it ("Revealed" in 2020) marks a clear change of orientation by more concise titles, the appearance of metal tendencies and an omnipresence of the vocals.

And it is not the opening track, 'The Astronomers', that will contradict this evolution: a quick start led by a powerful and syncopated rhythmic, a theme close to those favored by progressive metal and a vocal strangely evoking Tarja Turunen, everything lets us think that Psychic Equalizer has once again been tempted by a more accessible, but less original, metal-tinged music approach than anything that preceded "Revealed". But at 2'20, the atmosphere changes to become more solemn before the sung theme comes back, much softer and accompanied by acoustic guitars, before turning into an elegiac melody of the most beautiful effect.

This first track announces the content of the album, a progressive rock which will alternate passages close to metal ('Destination Zero', 'The Last of Humankind') and moments jazzy, ragtime ('The Last of Humankind') or new age ('Lament'), passing from sustained themes to others lighter, judiciously dividing its time between sung and instrumental parts, marrying shamelessly the heavy riffs of sharp guitars to the arpeggios and multiple appogiaturas of a classical piano (the magnificent solo of 'Destination Zero' in particular) and inviting classical guitars, flutes and inventive drums.

The technique of the musicians, assured by their classical background, is of high quality, entirely put at the service of the compositions. The solos of electric guitar and piano alternate with happiness and India Hooi's vocals comes to spice up the whole, evoking in turn Tarja in the passages requiring power and the whimsical Kate Bush when it reaches high notes.

Less innovative than "The Sixth Extinction" but more varied than "Revealed", there is not much to reproach to this short album which gathers melodious themes and diversity, allowing the listener to spend an excellent moment. - Official website

PSYCHIC EQUALIZER

REVEALED II

AUTRE LABEL

PROGRESSIVE ROCK