The Sunset Curse Artificial Heart Review by Gary Hill
I’ve bounced back and forth on whether or not this album is progressive rock. Ultimately, it comes down to whether you think modern Radiohead is prog or not. Mind you, very little of this makes me think of Radiohead, but the territory is similar. All in all, though, no matter what style you consider this to be, it’s an album with a modern sound that should still appeal to fans of older music. There’s never a point where it feels uneven or redundant. It’s just a very consistent and strong release.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2010 Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Silence Yourself
The vocal arrangement on this is quite cool. It’s multilayered and rather prog-like. In the early portions the track is almost acapella. Later they power out into a more rocking arrangement. It’s got a definite modern prog texture to it, even then.
Too Close to the Sun This reminds me a lot of something the Cure might do, if they were more progressive rock oriented.
Flavor I’d consider the mix of sounds on this track to be the same as the mélange on the previous ones. That said, this is an entirely different way to represent those leanings.
Artificial Heart There’s definitely a more prog oriented arrangement on this one. It’s quite keyboard driven. It’s also one of the strongest cuts on show.
Finally Free A mellower number, this is very much in keeping with the kind of progressive rock done by groups like Porcupine Tree.
Black Cloth
Another moody cut, this seems a bit like Radiohead merged with Porcupine Tree. There are ‘80’s influences on the track, too – especially The Cure.
MSFBF The first half of this is definitely not progressive rock. It’s a noisy, nearly techno kind of alternative rock. They take it out to a pretty and moody kind of instrumental section after that, though, that’s quite cool.
Slow Lover’s Sky A roughly ten minute long epic, this starts off very much like Meddle era Pink Floyd and builds up quite gradually. Nothing changes quickly on this instrumental. Instead, the cut combines an almost Grateful Dead kind of jam band motif with Pink Floyd elements to produce an intriguing piece of music.
Life Is an Ocean, Death is a Breeze A harder rocking piece, this feels a lot like Radiohead.
World Burning This mellower piece has a more modern edge, but feels a lot like some of the acoustic driven music from Pink Floyd. There is a bit of a Grateful Dead vibe, too.
