Because I know that for most of you the name Different
Light doesn’t ring any bell, I will begin by writting a few words about them.
The band was formed up in Malta in the first half
of the 90’s. Their first album All About
Yourself was released in 1996, and at the peak of their career they
supported Marillion’s former singer Fish in September of 1998. The next year
the band split up, and after a 10-year break they were reformed in 2008, in
Prague this time. In 2009 they released
the first album of their second period, Icons that Weep, which is a very
good example of modern and melodic Progressive Rock. This year they returned
with the release of the very good The Burden
of Paradise, available in digital form and physical CD as well.
The band was formed up in Malta in the first half
of the 90’s. Their first album All About
Yourself was released in 1996, and at the peak of their career they
supported Marillion’s former singer Fish in September of 1998. The next year
the band split up, and after a 10-year break they were reformed in 2008, in
Prague this time. In 2009 they released
the first album of their second period, Icons that Weep, which is a very
good example of modern and melodic Progressive Rock. This year they returned
with the release of the very good The Burden
of Paradise, available in digital form and physical CD as well.
The album includes 8 songs, with 2 of them
being divided into many smaller parts, and has a total running time of more
than an hour. The album’s characteristic
is the 2 long suits, ‘In the Grand Scheme of Things’, and ‘Eternal Return’.
‘In The
Grand Scheme of Things’ is the album’s opening song, a – almost - 22 minutes
long suite, which is divided into 8 shorter parts. It is a typical example of
modern Progressive Rock, including very nice melodies and many turns and
changes. The dominant instrument is the keyboards, with the electric guitar
playing a significant role as well. Personally speaking, I heard many Marillion
influences here and there, but it doesn’t really matter since the outcome is very
good and pleasant to the ears.
Next comes Voice of Outside, a beautiful and melodic tune, which is one of
the album’s personal favourites. Voice
of the Outside is followed by the instrumental A St. Martin’s Summer, a very pleasant tune with very good guitar
work, and a heavier overall sound. Although it is not a bad tune, it passes –
let’s say – unnoticed, because of the 2 previous and the next song, which are
really good ones!
So, after St. Martin's Summer comes the highlight of the album in my
opinion, Eternal Return. It is the
album’s second long suite, divided in 6 parts. With very good rhythm, beautiful
melodies, sweet piano passages and nice changes in the song’s main structure, it surely is a very good song, that “catches” the listener’s attention from
the first listening.
Transient Dreams is also a good piece,
but being placed after Eternal Return
is loosing some of its dynamic. After that, Mare Imbrium enters, which is actually the intro for the
10-minute-long Love and War, that
is divided in 2 parts. Another very good tune!
All for You is the album’s
closing song, a cool and relaxed melody, with piano and acoustic guitar in most
parts. Not bad, but also nothing special as well.
So,
in order to sum up, what we have here is a very good album, including some
impressive moments, especially with the presence of the 2 long suites,
beautiful melodies and a soft and pleasant sound, that can be appreciated by
almost everyone, being a Progressive Rock fan or not.
In my opinion their overall
sound and style reminds me of the Scottish band Comedy of Errors, but in an
improved way so to say.
The Burden of Paradise is a very pleasant and enjoyable album, one of this year's surprises, that you should definitely give it a try!
You can find more info on the band’s website,
from where you can also buy the album. Take a look here: http://www.differentlight.cz/
As
for my rating, It would be between 3.5 – 4.0 stars out of 5.0
By clicking on the following YT link you will be able to listen to the song Voice of Outside.
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