Residuos Mentales are a duo based in Athens and are Stratos Morianos on keys and Alexandros Mantas on guitars and flute. They formed in 2012, and have just released their sophomore album, A Temporary State of Bliss (their debut was Introspection released in 2018). It is released on OOB Records, and you can get this on the Bandcamp page at https://residuosmentales.bandcamp.com/album/a-temporary-state-of-bliss It is, by the way, pleasing to note that the band have sold out their initial CD pressing.
The band state that they have a penchant for classic, traditional, prog rock from the likes of Camel, Crimson, and Genesis, but add many other elements, including influences from their (gorgeous) native land. So, naturally, the question any decent reviewer asks is does this stack up?
There are only four tracks on an album some forty-four minutes long, and it includes two pieces of epic length, starting with the opener The Stuff of Dreams. The quality of both the playing and the mixing, production, and mastering by Dimistris Radis, Vangelis Spanakakis, and Apostolos Siopis shines through from the outset. In terms of feeling, you do get that Camel influence coming through very strongly, with the playful keys and flutes very reminiscent of the classic 1970’s period. Indeed, listening to this several times now, I do have to remind myself that I am listening here to Greek musicians, because this is English pastoral progressive rock wrought large. By the way, please do not take that as a criticism, because it is so well performed, it would be impossible to dislike. It evokes dreamlike thoughts, sitting as I am looking out over the gorgeous countryside, and it never once loses the listener’s attention. So, no, it is not blindingly original in its execution, but it is an extremely good listen. That mood, at ten minutes in, is rather shattered with the “Crimson bit”, which is very much of the improvisational Wetton, Muir, Cross, Bruford, and Fripp era, with a wee bit of the more industrial element thrown in as well. My feeling here is that this would have worked better as a standalone track because it is so out of character with what preceded it. Well played, certainly, but I was rather enjoying the quieter bit. The next segment is a gorgeous Floydian infused dream, led by a most beautiful guitar solo before a rising short denouement.
The Missing Part is the shortest track here, but this is over five and a half minutes long, so no slouch. I have embedded it below. I think this is a rather special piece of music, the guitar and piano combining with a sad impact, with the playing nothing less than excellent, and this, although containing nods to the classics, is to these ears a nice original piece, oozing with jazz sensibilities. You really cannot beat a bit of brass and the guitar solo is full of emotion.
A Series of Self-Correcting Errors is a strong contender for “title of the year” in this website’s annual awards. This is the second epic track, weighing in at just over twelve minutes. The opening guitar work is lush with some interesting effects which I think is far closer to being home influenced, and I really like it, carrying with it a sense of the dramatic before a guitar riff comes bursting out of the speakers with classic prog infused keys, but again giving us a sense of their home as opposed to anything nearer to me. As the track proceeds, we get a cinematic soundscape which I find very touching and very good. The guitar work is lovely before the mood changes into a more combative jazz inflection with swirling piano, flute, and riffs, of note especially the very good bass riff which charges towards the close surrounded by a psych melodrama on the keys, strident guitars, and chugging notes. A very good track.
We close with Impending Catastrophe. The start is nursery rhyme keys with a most beautiful flute piece accompanied by acoustic guitar as we return to the pastoral landscape of the opener, and one I could happily listen to for many years to come. This mood again is broken, this time with a more urgent key and brass effects riff laden passage, with urgent synths leading a charge. As the track progresses, the sense of doom on the horizon is very well executed in a wholly original fashion before we get the adrenaline rush of the storm closing in on us, with the inevitable declarations of love played out by piano and flute as you close your eyes and allow the keys to project the final drama in your mind.
A Temporary State of Bliss is a good album, certainly very impressive in its intent and musical execution. I think that their pastoral moments especially are very pleasing to the ear and senses, and fans of panoramic instrumental progressive rock will find much to enjoy here.