Detailed Reviews [ Toxenaris - 2018 - "Apoptosis"]

Prolusion. Toxenaris is the creative vehicle of composer and musician Timo ASPELMEIER, and while this venture has been ongoing for quite some time it is only in the past few years that the results have been commercially released. "Apoptosis" is the second album to be issued under the Toxenaris moniker, and was self released in 2018.

Analysis. Toxenaris is one of those projects that doesn't really fit into any one particular segment of the progressive rock universe. While this album as such stays within a specific context more often than not, it is not by any means a one-dimensional creation. Instrument details with a distinct touch of jazz is something of an ongoing feature however, and as such placing this album inside a jazz rock and fusion context does seem most appropriate. If there is any one aspect of this album that will stick more than others, I guess the keyboards will be what most people will mention. Floating keyboard textures and wandering piano motifs are mainstays alongside spirited keyboard solo runs with both a classic era progressive rock tinge to them as well as a more elegant, at times ethereal fusion touch at hand. The good, old organ is brought into play fairly often as well, and I presume it is the keyboards and possibly synthesizers that emulate a few additional instrument sounds brought in to the arrangements explored. The guitar is used in a similar manner, with wandering plucked guitars and harder edged guitar riffs both having their place here, alongside some nifty, elegant solo runs. While not used with as many variations as the keyboards, and a bit more as a supporting instrument, we get the same impulses strafing from jazz and jazz rock to more classic era progressive rock as far as this instrument is concerned as well. In terms of style details, what this production revolves around are ambient escapades, jazz rock and 70's progressive rock, and arguably with a touch of the symphonic varieties of it as far as the latter is concerned. Adding some jazz-oriented instrument details is common throughout, and while obviously a feature when the composition moves into a more purebred jazz, fusion or jazz rock passage they are also present in the parts with a more ambient and progressive rock orientation to them. As this is by and large an instrumental production, the roles of the various instruments will also be rather dominant. This is something that rather does come with the territory in such circumstances. And for variation we have a couple of creations that add in a few additional impulses too, with the chamber music and avant-tinged 'Gallium' the most prominent among these. "Apoptosis' is a production that always has something interesting to offer. Not always engaging on a deeper level, but never underwhelming in any way either. The mix and production does appear to be a tad rough around the edges here and there though, although this may well be a result of individual instrument recordings than the work done in the studio when assembling all the details. Still, in my opinion at least this isn't an album to seek out for any audiophiles out there.

Conclusion. Artists that mix and blend aspects of ambient music, jazz, jazzrock and classic era progressive rock aren't exactly dominating the lists of music submitted for me to have an opinion of, and it does strike me that in a relative niche genre as progressive rock, this is perhaps one of the more niche-oriented directions inside this context. This specimen is a fine one for those with an acquired taste for these kinds of landscapes, as long as one can accept a mix and production that is decent to good rather than superior in quality. A decent album with fine moments and elegant details, to be enjoyed by those who already know and love this specific kind and type of music.

Progmessor: November 2020
The Rating Room