Pareidolon: Aporía

Hailing from Nelson, Canada, Pareidolon are a progressive collective that originally were hand picked in 2015 to showcase the talents of bassist and songwriter Lachlan Tocher for his graduation recital. Having subsequently scattered across the globe to pursue their individual careers, the seven piece of Tocher, singers Brittany Keller and Jonathan Kwak, piano/synth lady Anna Backus, drummer Aybars Savat and guitarists Ashley Pearce and Branden Green have remained together – if apart – by continuing Pareidolon from afar. With two EPs under their belt, the debut album Aporía already finds a band confident and able in their ability to tackle whatever they choose, remaining loosely progressive, while not really caring just how strictly they slot into that tight genre boundary.

Hence the opening salvo comes in the shape of the three minute "Abducted!", organ pulsating with a good time bounce as guitars grind out a groove that hypnotically pulls you in. The clincher arrives in the shape of the joint male/female vocal interplays – crazed but focused, barely in control but always beautifully controlling. "The Tunnel" blindly leads us into a more sweepingly progressive direction, the faith needed to go with this band's whims taking in Camel, latter day Opeth and King Crimson and proving that with far fewer vocal incursions it's a sliding guitar solo and booming bass that can be equally effective on their own.

"Modern Romance" adds a pulsating clarion call of keys and a clicking tripping hi-hat that you suspect might just take us in an 80s new romantic direction but instead adds a lazily psychedelic swipe. Three songs in and these progressive workouts have surprised by only offering up twelve minutes of music. So that two of the last three tracks each break the eight minute mark should come as no surprise. "Behind The Glass" feels like the conclusion the whole album has been building towards, an ever evolving piece marking territory in prog metal grounds while also leaving its scent in an area much more pastoral and soothing. With Tocher's bass always threatening to break loose, the air is constantly filled with the threat of something new; hence that bright keys slap you in the face as we build to crescendo should be expected – but it's a pleasant sidestep nonetheless.

Before this crowning closure comes "Leave", where a steadier outlook reveals a few minor chinks in the armour, the guitar solos never quite feeling integral to the journey, while the vocals try desperately to find their grip on the smooth sheer rock face created. Whereas the shorter "Good Morning" provides a beautiful if brief piano interlude where Alan Silvestri would happily settle one of his scores; rain pitter pattering in the background, enigmatic conclusions never far away.

Through its very diversity Aporía can initially feel disjointed and remote but as you delve deeper into the world of Pareidolon, the clearer things become, and the more believable the results. As debuts go this is impressive. Yes there's room to grow and evolve in the future, but that would appear to be the true strength of this outfit and as such what comes next should be most interesting indeed.

Track Listing
1. Abducted!
2. The Tunnel
3. Modern Romance
4. Leave
5. Good Morning
6. Behind The Glass

Added: February 11th 2018
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Pareidolon at bandcamp
Hits: 1263
Language: english

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