Detailed Reviews [Kerrs Pink - 2002 - "Tidings"]

Preamble. With four new members on board, one of which, Freddy Ruud, invented most of "Tidings", the crew of Viking's musical ship Kerrs Pink asserts that their new journey is rich in intriguing events as never before. I am inclined to believe them, especially since before, I never was 'on a voyage' with them.With four new members on board, one of which, Freddy Ruud, invented most of "Tidings", the crew of Viking's musical ship Kerrs Pink asserts that their new journey is rich in intriguing events as never before. I am inclined to believe them, especially since before, I never was 'on a voyage' with them.

The Album. Above all, I must note that the music that is presented on this album sounds fresh and distinctly original. And I am always glad to discover a contemporary band performing a real Progressive Rock, which, moreover, doesn't feature any influences. Stylistically, four out of the seven compositions that Kerrs Pink's fifth album consists of represent a concrete fusion of Classic Art-Rock and Prog-Metal with elements of Doom-Metal (which, though, is here of a dramatic rather than clearly dark character). These are Hour Glass, Yumi Yeda, Mystic Dream, La Sable est Ecoule (tracks 1, 4, 6, & 7), the latter of which is the only instrumental piece on "Tidings". Hour Glass is a bit simpler than most of the other tracks here, but then, being one of the heaviest compositions on the CD, it exerts influence upon a listener like an accumulator. All three of the other aforementioned tracks are filled with various essential progressive ingredients and feature truly hard-edged and diverse arrangements, most of which, though, remain of a dramatic character regardless of whether they 'currently' consist of heavy and harsh or symphonic and soft musical structures. Unlike the other "tidings", these three are rich not only in the parts of traditional Rock instruments, but also in those of brass and string instruments, and are, in my honest opinion, the best here. Shooting Star and Moments In Life (3 & 5) are about Classic Symphonic Art-Rock where, nevertheless, the presence of elements of Progressive Doom-Metal, as well as a role they play in the arrangements of these songs (especially on Shooting Star), is really evident. Compositionally, they aren't inferior to any of the best compositions on the album. Then, you may ask me, what is that on these two songs with which I am not satisfied. Of course, my opinion is subjective, but the presence of a few, both male and female, singers on the same song isn't my cup of tea. Also, unlike angelic vocals of Lillian, who, unfortunately, sings only once here (on 2), a timbre of Tracee's voice is quite harsh for my ears. Well, only the Classic Art-Rock ballad Tidings From Some Distant Shore (2) is certainly free of any heavy textures. Filled with highly original, just magically sounding interplay between passages of semi-acoustic guitar, violin, and synthesizer and solos of organ and electric guitar, this is one of the most complex and, at the same time, beautiful ballads I've heard for the last five years, at least. Finally, I'd like to mention that while any of the first three tracks here contains approximately the equal number of the vocal and instrumental parts, the 'rest' of the CD is much richer in the latter of them.

Summary. It's not a secret that Kerrs Pink is regarded as nearly Camel's wannabes almost everywhere on the Web. I don't know whether Kerrs Pink really showed resemblance to this band before or not, but here, on "Tidings", only some of the guitar solos may remind of those by Andy Latimer. As for me however, I did never recall of Andy & Co, as well as any other band, while listening to the music by these Norwegians, which, moreover, is much heavier than that on any of the Camel albums. Furthermore, I find "Tidings" more interesting than any of those three albums that Camel released in the 1990s, at least (haven't heard their latest one). So I can only repeat that of course, anyone's opinion is fairly subjective: Nevertheless, I always try to be honest with you dear readers and, often, in spite of all...

VM: November 28, 2002