Stick Men - Prog Noir

by Keith How

published: 8 / 11 / 2016

Label: Iapetus
Format: CD

Fine but sometimes pretentious fourth album from progressive rock trio, the Stick Men

Review

With a trio consisting of two members of King Crimson (Tony Levin and Pat Masteletto) and multi-instrumentalist Markus Reuter, there is one thing you can be certain of is that the musicianship on the album will be beyond comparison. The band take their name from the Chapman Stick that, in the hands of Levin, features heavily. Reuter plays an eight stringed touch guitar while Masteletto rummages round his drum kit with aplomb. So with no shortage of experience and competence on show how does this, their fourth offering, sound? The title 'Prog Noir' gives a massive clue to the album’s contents and is also the opening track. What follows feels a little like “Hey, listen up, we can play really well and we are going to show you just how good we are.” And they do. The feel is dark, moody and threatening. There are more notes and riffs in the opener than I know what to do with. Yes, it is amazingly competent, even brilliant, but also complicated and intricate. Notes fly around like shells from a scatter gun, drums rattle away complicated patterns and rhythms. Sometimes there are vocals that seem to reflect David Bowie but you get the feel that they are a bit of an afterthought. 'Prog Noir' is relentless. “Progessive” as a term hardly does the album justice. The compositions are intense and often appear over played and overpowering with time changes in abundance. 'A Rose in the Sand' offers some respite, showing a more melodic and gentle side to the band. I should be clear on one thing and that is the amazing ability of the musicians. They have created something quite unique and will absolutely delight lovers of this genre. Production wise 'Prog Noir' as you might expect is faultless. The virtuoso bass playing pounds and throbs and pounds away getting inside your head.After a few listens I still find the third track 'Plutonium' pretentious only redeemed by 'The Tempest' which has a more traditional rock construction. So, there you have it. 'Prog Noir' seems to be available in all formats even a box set with a T-shirt should you so desire. Modern progressive rock at its finest.

Track Listing:-

1 Prog Noir
2 Mantra
3 Plutonium
4 The Tempest
5 Schattenhaft
6 A Rose in the Sand / Requiem
7 Leonardo
8 Trey's Continuum
9 Embracing the Sun
10 Never the Same