BROTHER APE – III (review)

1. Universal eye (6:43)
2. Cosmic overdose (5:11)
3. Monday breakfast (6:55)
4. No answer (7:57)
5. Another day of wonder (5:51)
6. Immortal (5:02)
7. All I really want (7:32)
8. Human equation (7:05)
9. Three (0:54)

Year: 2008
Label: Progress Records


It is thanks to a Swedish label Progress Record that I have this opportunity to write a review on Brother Ape. As the very title of this album suggests, III is a third release of Brother Ape – a formation whose style could be described as prog jazz rock (Progarchives.com). Genres aside, let’s have a look at the very music included on the album.

„III” – this album has definately both good and bad moments, and I’ll start with good ones. There are a few fragments that prove that band members have the skills to make really good music. The opening track „Universal Eye” could seve here as an example. Parts on drum are excellent, intricate flows and twisted rhythmic patterns attract your attention many a times, in „Monday Breakfast” acoustic guitar lines and subtle orchiestra sounds are simply outstanding (it is one of those tracks that have verse which is more interesting than chorus) „All I Really Want” is brilliant, it seems that this is a real highlight of the album. It’s quite lofty and solemn in style and makes you think about some lonely evenings in autumn and longing for someone really close. If the album included more sounds of this kind I would call it a masterpiece. However, it’s about time to move to weak points. Unfortunatelly I got an impression that vocals included on III are very similar to one another. The lead singer sings …..but……. just sings. Vocals are not expressive, they do not contain many emotions. Choruses, that are not strikingly good, are another weak point here. In fact, having listened to this album for a few times, apart from the „All I Really Want” which I mentioned above, none of the fragments stayed in my mind, haven’t evoked any emotions….you probably know what I mean. I haven’t found „this thing” that makes music special.

Please do not think that I perceive this album as not worthy a listen to, because it’s absolutelly not the thing here! It contains loads of good music especially instrumental parts are great. You can hear that band members are skilled musicians so you can find some fine sounds that are sometimes hampered by vocals that are not well thought-out.


6,7/10

Piotr Michalski
translation: Gosia Michalska