My quest for something new meant setting the GPS for the unknown...which took the search for all things prog to Greece this week, a place I have not visited nearly enough. They say curiosity killed the cat; I say the cat should have been a prog fan; he would have had a much happier life! Welcome to the sounds of Residuos Mentales.
The opening cut, "Pandora's Box," peels the curtain back with some terrestrial sounds led by a definitive piano...there is a Jordan Rudess meets sci-fi meets The Moody Blues feel to the intro; if it's possible to be swept up in a cloud of music and transported to a different universe, this song takes you there. A calming serenity flows gently through every note as well, much like watching the tide slowly roll in as the full moon illuminates the beach...
Farther down the playlist, "The Thorn in Me" continues the somber elegance that permeates the room. There are top notes of Al DiMeola on soft acoustic as flute and piano once again rinse the stress away as easily as peeling off silk pajamas. Residuos Mentales rides that fine line etched between the ambient and AOR sections of the prog garden. Your pulse is slowed to a gentle whisper as you fall smoothly into the musical surreal...
Liner Notes...Residuos Mentales call Athens, Greece home. The band is a two man operation consisting of Stratos Morianos on keyboards and Alexandros Mantas on guitars and flute. "Introspection," their first foray into the prog garden, was released last August. Starting out with a concept album is a bit of a risk, but Residuos Mentales manage to wade through those rough waters just fine. Originally coming together in 2012, the duo spent the better part of four years recording a plethora of instrumental pieces that culminated in this 2018 debut. Stratos and Alexandros seem to draw energy and emotion from each other as they put this album together song by song...connecting the darkness lurking behind a seemingly harmless facade to the inner workings of a tortured soul..."Introspection" tells of one man's internal anguish as he deals with memories of his past, hence the dark somber overtones and canvas filled with gray to black hues...
One last peek behind the mask reveals "A Prospect of a Blooming Life," another beautiful piece that shines a bit of light on the entire collection. The piano once again basks in the spotlight but with more tender overtones and an acoustic counterpart that caresses your mind as it flows smoothly through the headphones and right through your entire being. Residuos Mentales has taken up residence in a unique section of the prog garden; blending the beauty of original Greek music with a "quiet ornate" flair and a touch of ambient, much the way Eno was a soothing balm in his earlier days. The canvas is flush with bright colors more reminiscent of a summer's day than a Peter Max painting; soothing for the mind and spirit--not a jolt of caffeine.
The finale for the week is "A Promise Unkept/Mental Residuals." A gentle reminder that perhaps not everything follows even the best of plans...sometimes the mental roadblocks keep you from your chosen path. Yet Residuos Mentales is able to paint a broken spirit with a gentle brush as you find yourself looking inward with more peace of mind than regret. Introspection can be a good thing...
Once again we have come to the end of the road for this week fellow progheads; the sand has dropped into the bottom globe of the hourglass. Residuos Mentales was a refreshing journey through new acreage in the prog garden, a gentle mind massage for those in need of mental relaxation. To venture into one's past wary of the pain and torment yet able to find serenity in all the commotion is a rare thing; Stratos and Alexandros walked that path beautifully. This week's journey was a pleasant side road filled with splendor...
The search for all things prog continues on the road less traveled...until next time...
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