Riverside
Out Of Myself

THE REVIEW

Beautiful Riverside music, full and enveloping, that, like water in the riverbed evoked by the name, flows slowly and velvety in some parts, fast and dark in others; water never cold, but instead always warm and in some cases even hot.
This "Out Of Myself" by Riverside, a group originating from Poland, has impressed me from the very first listen for its style and the sophistication of its atmospheres.

It's impossible not to pick up on some clear Floydian inspirations in pieces like "Loose Heart" or "In Two Minds", especially in some guitar phrases that are always precise, never over-the-top, careful to fill the gaps and enrich the songs with warm-toned colors; it's impossible not to recognize the sad and melancholic atmospheres typical of Porcupine Tree's "In Absentia" or Opeth's "Damnation". In this way, Riverside has managed to exploit (note, not copy!) these influences to create their own personal style, which is the result of the evolution of the styles of the aforementioned sacred monsters.

Thus is born a progressive album of rare beauty and elegance, an exciting and evocative album imbued with melancholy and emotion, but at times also powerful and edgy, with a voice (almost always sweet and enveloping) that becomes harsher, hoarse, as in the track "Loose Heart" which begins like a sunny day and ends like a thunderstorm.

The album comes to life with the concept formula, whose story begins with "Out Of Myself" and concludes with the following album "Second Life Syndrome". It talks about a man who searches for himself within the society surrounding him; in this album, he is alone and weak, seeking refuge in love but, failing, finds himself even more isolated, disillusioned, and fragile. The next album will tell the story of his spiritual rebirth.
In this way, the experiences of the protagonist act as the common thread of the entire story, accompanying the listener through his whirlwind of emotions, from sadness to hope, from illusion to despair. Thus the album concludes with the very sweet "Ok" that caresses the brain and heart, where the man analyzes his desperate situation, asking himself a thousand whys, but with the clear awareness that sooner or later the calm will return.

I believe Riverside has managed to bring out something brilliant, this album (as well as the next) has the power to enchant and gift emotions. Listen to it carefully, and you will fall in love with it.