Beardfish
Sleeping in Traffic: Part One

I know. The ridiculous name doesn't help (isn't "Spock's Beard" also ridiculous, after all?), but the beardfish is really a remarkable animal: the display of technique doesn't come at the expense of the enjoyment it provides.

It took me a while to realize it, but the music these four jokers make - led by what appears to be the Swedish counterpart of Jack Black - excites me. Bewildered at the first listens, as I mentioned, the final impression is truly excellent.

An eclectic, fresh progressive album, while still drawing from the most classic prog (in “Harmony” they sound like Gentle Giant, and in the rest of the album, there's something for all the '70s greats' fans).

Unlike Part II (and where is it, you might ask? Here it is here, reviewed very well, by the way, although I would have given it an extra point.. oh yes.), this first installment of the batch is more reflective, both in the more melancholic tones of the melodies (“Sunrise” is moving in its advance) and in the lyrics, which are very emotional and well-constructed. The beginning of the semi-acoustic “Afternoon Conversation”, for example, is full of feeling: the classic song perfect for having tea at five with your girlfriend, so to speak. The same dreamy mood is revisited in the beautiful “Dark Poet”.

“And Never Know” starts in pure Mars Volta style, setting up what I believe is the masterpiece of the album, the long track “Roulette”. Here, our Scandinavians range from ballad to circus march with truly rare flair. “Same Old Song”, the final song, reprises the theme of “Sunrise” after a journey back in time to about 1976.

And to think there are still those who say that prog is cold music made only of technique for its own sake.

Thank you for proving them wrong, beardfish.

Rating: 4.5/5