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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

Paatos

Timeloss

Review by Josh Turner

Like they say on Sesame Street, this is different, but the same. For those of you familiar with their sophomore release (that would be "Kallocain"), this is certainly what we've come to know as Paatos. However, it is different enough that anybody accusing them of rehash would be committing a seriously bad act of slander. While the second album may have had some strong influences by Porcupine Tree due to Steven Wilson's involvement, this one comes off more classically progressive. This is not what I expected, but it is surely welcome. The music is so good, the time floats by undetected. One minute it is playing. The next it is over. Like Ed Norton says in "Primal Fear", you'll just lose time. It's that good. It's also that short (39:47 to be exact).

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2005 Year Book Volume 2 at https://garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2005.

Track by Track Review
Sensor
This has a very impromptu and jazzy feel to it. The groove is hip and happy. A slower bass coupled with crazy drums creates a cool juxtaposition of sound. The change in time signature is sure to keep you guessing.
Hypnotique
Instantly, this is my favorite track from both of the Paatos' albums and it only continues to get better with each and every second until reaching the end. I found myself wanting this to go on longer. To these ears, it actually sounds a little like Kaipa in some places.
They Are Beautiful
The song takes awhile to get going. It begins in a Tangerine Dream. The sweet and juicy citrus is flowing. The slumber is refreshing and there is no hurry to get out of bed. As the sun rises and the light begins to fill the room, horrors are found littered around the room. The lyrics give us a creepy vibe. There is no delight in this delusion as this dream has become a nightmare. Creaking doors and shimmering shudders gives us no solace. Before the evil that lurks in this domicile returns, we slip out in the shadows and escape into the dawning of a new day. The sax and flute guide us to safety.
Quits
After four entertaining songs, we come to the end of the tracks. This is the longest ride on the album. Petronella totally embraces Bjork's tense, but equally efficient style of singing in this song. The quick taps of the piano and the rapid raps of the drum propel this one through space like a jet engine. We hit a lot of turbulence on the way to our final destination. The trumpets and bass really stir up the wind and knock us around. When the plane finally reaches the runway, the unexpected landing is as smooth as glass.
Hypnotique (videoclip)
This is a fantastic bonus. It's actually a full-blown music video featuring Patronella in the standard montage of scenes around an apartment. The close-ups of inanimate objects will be appreciated by photographers and artists. It is interesting how they use time-elapse footage and synch it smoothly with the lyrics. For example, she sings, "drown me," while she sinks into a bath. Every other frame is removed to give it a staggering appearance. You know that gag where you run a hand past your face and change your expression. They do the same in a few places, but just steal the frames in between for the same effect while the camera spies on Patronella. Towards the middle, there is a fading technique that is interesting to watch. Later, the band is shown and flashes in a manner that makes them look like they're playing under a strobe light. The entire video is easy on the eyes and choreographs extremely well with the music. It will take little of your time as it is less than half the length of the original (3:50 as opposed to 8:32). This is the best song (that's "Hypnotique" for those of you who glossed over the earlier commentary) in QuickTime format. Who could ask for anything more?


 
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