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The Cosmic Remedy: The Cosmic Remedy

Internet projects are hardly a rarity now, in fact as we head deeper and deeper into the digital age, their number must be beginning to match, if not surpass that of "proper" bands. However to make these endeavours work is still a challenge and one that makes the Progressive, Rock, Pop project The Cosmic Remedy all the more impressive, for this self titled debut is really rather tasty. The brainchild of Yesterdays and Tabula Smaragdina guitarist, Akos Bogati-Bokor, this self titled outing brings together a cast of musicians who have never met in person and are scattered across the globe, to combine in focused, yet undeniably eclectic style.

The album opens unashamedly Progressive; "Overture", "Blue Skies" and "What You Are" bringing to mind the early works from Yes and especially Genesis, while also reminding of the more storytelling style of The Tangent. And mighty fine it is too, however just as you think that sussed you have this album, the Childhood Suite that those first three tracks comprise, segues into the four track A Suitcase Of Memories and suddenly we're fit to Pop! Well to Beatles and almost Monkees in a 60s sort of hip-shaking, tambourine quaking, harmony vocal making slice of melody, melody, melody. It is a sharp about face and an unexpected one. But don't be fooled, with glockenspiel, handclaps and Wurlitzer utterly convincing and strangely captivating. Although the sudden flute outburst in "I Don't Have To Run" jars you into remembering that the sum of these parts is more than smiley Pop-Rock goodness.

Lost Marbles Suite again changes the focus, with up until now the vocals from Ulf Yacobs (Childhood Suite) and Tico De Moraes (Suite-case...) making way for the seductively relaxed styles of Vera Kilma, Iulia Pardau, and Ercesy Andrea Emese "Sissy", the three ladies' bright tones offering another 180 degree turn. While musically this set of four songs does a great job in combining the Proggier moments and Poppier exploits from earlier. Especially the breathy "Song Without A Home".

Moraes returns to the closing three tracks of Farewell Suite, the vocal led "Welcome To The Pepperland Lounge" an album highlight, before the overtly Beatles strum and strings of "Train To Nowhere" pulsates with a smile on its face. "Hiding From The Sun" closing the album in suitably enigmatic style, marching drums, whistling, strings, layers of vocals, hooks, time changes, all crammed into five and a bit minutes of joyousness.

With (among others) band members from such varied acts as Yesterdays, Tabula Smaragdina, The Samurai Of Prog, Argos, Yacobs, Klima, a female fronted Romanian Led Zeppelin tribute act, Dusty Old Records (the band of singer Iulia Pardau - her Robert Plant is stunning! Check her out on YouTube) and members of the Jazz world all colliding on The Cosmic Remedy, there was a danger the results could have been utterly confused. In the end the fact it all comes together so seamlessly is to Bogati-Bokor's credit. Hopefully he'll be emailing his friends and "bandmates" about a follow up any day now.


Track Listing
Childhood Suite
1.Overture
2. Blue Skies
3. What You Are


A Suite-case Of Memories
4. Postcard From Prague
5. Susie And Me
6. I'll Be Your Friend
7. I Don't Have To Run


Lost Marbles Suite
8. Daylight Dreaming
9. Story Of A Prince
10. Blue Sea
11. Song Without A Home


Farewell Suite
12. Welcome To The Pepperland Lounge
13. Train To Nowhere
14. Hiding From The Sun

Added: April 8th 2014
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: The Cosmic Remedy Online
Hits: 2223
Language: english

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