After an EP and a contribution to a Marillion tribute record, the Italian band Mytho finally released its debut album In The Abstract. As the biographic information proudly states, John Payne of John Payne's Asia is a guest musician on this record. This immediately gives you a clue to the type of music you can expect from Mytho : well-groomed melodic AOR. The songs are quite nice, the musicians obviously know their stuff and they're able to write a decent tune. However, it all sounds a bit too safe, nowhere does the band really rock out, and it's all a bit understated. In The Abstract gets better every time you play it, but this playing should be happening at night time because the music gives you a comfortable, snug feeling a bit like a musical blanket. For me the highlight is the instrumental Maelström because it's up-tempo and has a decent guitar solo in it, nice and way too short. In the end - for a record which has been in the making for over three years - it leaves the listener behind with the feeling that the music could have been better. Well, maybe next time? **André de Waal (edited by Peter Willemsen) Where to buy? |
