At the inaugural year of RoSfest, Little Atlas blew crowds away at a time when some may have considered them amateurs. Back then all they had to go on was a single album to their name. Soon after, they followed up with a surprisingly mature effort entitled Wanderlust. It’s not just that Wanderlust was better than their debut, Surface Serene; it was even leaps and bounds ahead of the tall buildings that Superman was vaulting. With only a few more years under these caped crusader’s utility belts, they topple another obstacle with an eclectic collection of well-written songs. This goes to show that they hold V.I.P. status among the most elite progressive rockers of today.

While their music isn’t entirely out-there this time around, it has a highly-developed theme sandwiched between countless engrossing jams. That should be all that’s needed to keep the most demanding listeners focused. Yet, it keeps its wits about it by slipstreaming clever libretto with slippery keyboards and the snazziest of saxes.  Steve Katsiskas - their fearless leader – is responsible for those prerequisite elements. However, Roy Strattman’s guitar, Rik Bigai’s bass, and Diego Pocovi’s drums are up to snuff as well. These three introduce mental acuity of their own, and in doing so; help to create an album that’s more amazing than Wonder Women’s see-through jet. What’s most significant about this band is that they continue to grow while at the same time, their alma mater is recognizable in just a couple of bars. Their proprietary code is constantly used throughout their movements. Likewise, they expand upon their formulaic trademarks in order to compile a rock-solid release. The only drawback is that they often coax the melodies to fit around the verses. In the title track, they use that empty word to a revolting degree. Still, I can understand the need to balance instrumental manipulation against a laudable concept.  Lately, I too have been paying more attention to lyrical content so this release couldn’t have come at a better time for me. Ultimately, their glowering words give these songs depth plus a reason to revisit every single track. If music is expression; one could argue that it would be worthless to make an album without this meaningful dimension. And for that reason, they may have taken us further down the rabbit hole, which is a plausible level below Wanderlust.

Taken as a whole, this is an album that will heal. The value of having psychobabble in the arthroscopic procedure is that it leaves room for bionic augmentation. To that end, we all win because it gives Little Atlas another reason to proceed. We reap the rewards, and it necessitates no sweat on our part. Our cheap premium pays for their years of study and the depreciation of their apparatus. When they’re in the studio, the anesthesiologist makes sure we don’t sense the teensiest prick. I’m sure they’ll continue to yield future albums and when they do, I’ll be in the waiting room.  Hopefully, more is planned in their repertoire. It would be great if the coordinators of RoSfest doctored the bill and asked them back for a follow-up appointment. In the interim, they have grafted a limb to their discography that is worthy of many listens.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2008  Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.