The anchestry program - of silent mammalia - 2023
“..to save the planet ...”
intro
After hearing the debut album "Tomorrow" (2020) by German band The Anchestry Program (TAP), an album which left a positive impression on me, I was looking forward to their performance at the ArtRock Festival (2023) in Reichenbach. It was unfortunate that the band was the opener on the first day. Their music, which also possesses the necessary complexity, unfortunately did not quite come out in this festival setting. Later that day, I spoke at length with drummer Andy Lind about all sorts of things that come into play when releasing an album (in preparation for The Foundation's project, which I had been working on for a year at the time). From him I bought the album "Mysticeti Ambassadors Part 1" back then. And the owner of the Progressive Promotion Records label (Oliver Wenzler) was kind enough to sell me one of the last copies of "Tomorrow" (a beautiful limited Mediabook version). Both albums have been released as digipacks on Progressive Promotion Records. When I spoke to Oliver Wenzler again last month at the Night Of The Prog Festival (2023), he gave me a physical promo copy of the new album "Of Silent Mammalia Part II". And of course, The Anchestry Program deserves a spot on my progVisions project.
Ben Knabe - Lead Vocals, Background Vocals, Lap Steel Guitar; Mani Gruber - Lead Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards, Background Vocals, Engineering, Mixing, Mastering; Mike Voglmeier - Lead Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards, Background Vocals; Thomas Burlefinger - Keyboards, Guitars, Vocals, Engineering, Mixing, Mastering; Marco Osmajic - Electric Bass; Andy Lind - Drums, Loop Programming, Keyboards, Guitar, Background Vocals, Scream Vox, Engineering
Special Guests:
Wolfgang Zenk - Guitars and Guitar solo on "Ancestors"; Tom Reinbrecht - Tenor & Alto Saxophone on "Path Of Inspiration", Soprano Saxophone on "Create Our Sins"; Reinhard Greiner - Trumpet on "Path Of Inspiration" and "Create Our Sins"; Petra Amasreiter - Violin on "War Is Over"; Emil Bekir - Cello on "Pangreta's Box"; Klaus Filser - Violin and Viola on "Pangreta's Box"
review
The new The Anchestry Program album opens with a short song entitled "Mysticeti Ambassadors ..." (2:15), a sort of mysterious intro to reintroduce the whales (ambassadors to save the planet) before the album's first highlight pops out of your speakers. With "Path Of Inspiration" (7:09), things really take off with wonderfully varied drumming, organ, guitars and the horns of the guest musicians. It is a varied prog song with lovely instrumental sections where the drumming really stands out. Also the vocals in the melodic choruses. The lead vocals convince me in this prog track that gets a somewhat jazzy character at times due to the horns. A fine prog song.
In "Pangreta's Box" (7:31), the music gets even more intense. There is even a bit of grunting (didn't need to for me). But this is interspersed with clean vocals and melodic vocal choruses. What I find more interesting is the use of the cello, violin and viola in this track. These classical instruments broaden the timbre palette even more. And we can enjoy delicious synth and guitar solos towards the end. "Pangreta's Box" is a fierce song.
The (electric) violin can also be heard in the next song "War Is Over" (7:56). People who know me know that I really like instruments like violin and flute in my prog. So this is a plus for me. However, the composition is slightly simpler in structure. In the final section, we do get to enjoy the Hammond organ and fine guitar work. "Maria's Smile" (8:46) has a mysterious opening with beautiful keyboard layers and delicate guitar playing. That lovely keyboard work continues as the song develops as a beautiful ballad. A lovely resting point halfway through the album. The vocal choruses are very nice. A beautiful song.
"Ancestors" (7:36), on the other hand, is an uptempo song with a lot of power. You can hear this especially in the metal-like drumming, the heavy guitars and some vocal parts (there is a bit of grunting again). "Ancestors" is a fine mix between prog and metal influences. "Star To Follow" (7:56) is more my cup of tea. It has a nice mysterious opening and there is much more melody in this track. You can hear that immediately in the vocal sections. It is more prog and there are nice transitions and melodies. Beautiful keyboard layers pass by again and the vocals are sung with passion. Interesting guitar parts can also be heard. A lovely song full of tension, variation and melody.
During the opening of "Paranoid Structures" (6:39), the band goes full throttle again. With the vocals, the beautiful melodies return. The instrumental pieces make more use of angular rhythms. This gives a nice contrast in combination with the vocal sections that have more melody. In "Create Our Sins" (6:11), the wind instruments return, giving the music slightly more jazz fusion influences. Gradually, the music becomes more funky and jazzy. An interesting outing from the band.
"... Of Silent Mammalia" (3:55) closes the album and is actually more the outro belonging to the opening "Mysticeti Ambassadors ..." of the album. So the other songs are placed between these two pieces. Musically, this closing track has a more folk-rock feel. Certainly the last guitar pieces are more folk and rock than prog. A surprising ending for me musically.
conclusion
Germany's The Anchestry Program has come up with "Of Silent Mammalia Part II" a very varied album. Especially if you look at the different musical styles. Of course, as a prog fan, I don't look up from any influences from the metal side of the progressive rock spectrum. But still draw a line at the bits of grunt vocals heard on this album. In my opinion, the band doesn't need this. The classic inputs in a song like "Pangreta's Box" are more appropriate. The music becomes more exciting with the addition of the string instruments. The jazzy and funky influences by the wind instruments also boost the sound spectrum. Don't mind finding a bit of jazz fusion back in my prog. But all in all, a good album from a band that is developing its own style.
Warning: note that the "Mysticeti Ambassadors Part 1" and "Of Silent Mammalia Part II" albums are both tucked into almost identical covers. This confusion even led to me giving away my Part I to my best friend (to further support the band). So had to re-order a "Mysticeti Ambassadors Part 1" from the band. So with my support to the band, I'm fine :-)