Detailed Reviews [ Millenium - 2018 - Notes Without Words]

Prolusion. Polish band MILLENIUM has been an ongoing venture since the late 1990's, and is quite the productive band too with 15 studio albums to their name so far, and quite a few live albums and compilations too. The album "Notes Without Words" dates back to 2018, and this compilation album was released through Polish label Lynx Music.

Analysis. Millenium is among those bands that have kept the fire burning for an open, accessible and inviting variety of neo-progressive rock, and while they do have a few other facets to their sound and style that is the main impression one is left with on this production too. While not a purebred instrumental album, some tracks feature brief moments of vocals or voices, this is by and large an instrumental compilation, assembling released and some unreleased material of the instrumental variety into one collection of songs, and giving this compilation a rather proper name too of course. All the songs have been mixed together with various manners of transitional phases, so that the album experience is emphasized despite the fact that the songs are at times rather different. Which is something of a unique approach as far as I know, and at least a creative choice the band should be given credit for. The songs themselves are mainly of the atmospheric laden kind, with guitars and keyboards alternating between solo runs and occasionally joining forces for a more harmony- oriented run with a richer and fuller sound. The saxophone pops up here and there with solo runs too, and even the bass guitar is given a few moments to shine as an individual instrument. While mainly staying out inside neo-progressive landscapes, occasional detours into more Floydian landscapes do appear, as well as moments and parts that arguably are closer to a soft rock expression. Electronic effects are used here and there to expand the palette and increase the elements presented to us, which is a well thought out addition to the landscapes explored here. The nature of the songs range from soft and fairly gentle escapades to harder edged and majestic creations, but never stray too far from each other in that specific context. Style more than intensity and power separates most of these compositions. As I presume these songs are from different time periods of the band, there is a difference in how the band comes across from one song to the other on occasion. The changes aren't all that dramatic though, and showcase a band with a strong identity that has been maintained and developed over the years.

Conclusion. Instrumental albums have always been intriguing productions in many ways. They do limit the potential audience of an album somewhat, but those passionate about such albums probably buy more music than the average music fan too. How this specific album has made it in the three years since it's release I do not know, but for those who generally like instrumental albums and have a taste for the more accessible varieties of neo-progressive rock this is an album to take note of.

Progmessor: July 2021
The Rating Room