"Etarlis" is
the second full length album of the
British prog-rock band Mermaid Kiss.
Mermaid Kiss are not a prog-rock
act per se, but more an art-rock.
The main approach is based on female
vocals and acoustic guitars, while
electric guitars are used sparingly.
The overall outcome is very interesting
and unique. There are not many bands
that combine these sound elements
in the way of Mermaid Kiss. Despite
lacking power and nerve, "Etarlis" is
a gently and sensible story that
relaxes and intrigues at the same
time. It recreates a warm atmosphere,
with a fairytale essence, and transmits
a positive feeling. Surely the final
result would be better, if more electricity
was added, but this is just my opinion
(actually my imagination). There
are a lot of moving moments in this
fine-produced album, such as the
epic "The City of Clouds (Qway-Lin)" and "Nowhere
to Hide" that will make the
fans of art-rock rejoice. In other
details, "Etarlis" is
a concept album, which narrates the
adventures of two friends in a foreign
and unfriendly world. The band has
invested much on this concept and
has created a specialized website,
which you can find at www.etarlis.co.uk.
Friends of prog/art rock are strongly
encouraged to approach the band and
purchase "Etarlis", which
is a very significant release for
prog-rock, as the awards it collected
testify. |
