RPWL - THE RPWL EXPERIENCE

RPWL - THE RPWL EXPERIENCE

Disk 1 . . . . . . .67:08
1) Silenced . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:52
2) Breathe In, Breathe Out . . . . . 3:52
3) Where Can I Go? . . . . . . . . . 7:19
4) Masters Of War . . . . . . . . . . 6:18
5) This Is Not A Prog Song . . . . . 5:35
6) I Watch Myself Sleeping . . . . . 6:01
7) Stranger . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:33
8) River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:52
9) Choose What You Want To Look At . 5:05
10) Turn Back The Clock . . . . . . 6:38

RPWL's official website at:
http://www.rpwl.net/

Line-up
- Yogi Lang: vocals and keyboards
- Karlheinz Wallner: guitar
- Manni Müller: drums
- Christian Postl: bass

format: Single CD
InsideOut music # SPV79722
release date: March 25 2008

RPWL has always remained true and consistent musically, highlighting their strong Pink Floyd influences on all their albums, they began originally as a Pink Floyd tribute band and while it might sound too derivative for some, RPWL's sound is very unique and instantly recognizable; the beautiful vocal harmonies and the great keyboard work makes this group stand out. The RPWL experience is the band's 6th CD, a concept album revolving around the theme of mass consumption. I feel this is their most accomplished work, a very melodic and varied rock album composed of 10 captivating tracks.

The album begins with Silenced, an energetic, catchy composition with a great melody and an intense rhythm. Yogi Lang's voice on that number is very reminicent of Ray Wilson's (they do have very similar voices and Ray has worked in the past with RPWL). Great powerful lyrics too. Breath In, Breath Out is most representative of that RPWL "sound", a great melody with a catchy chorus. Where Can I Go? has that early Pink Floyd feel, a bluesy, guitar-strumming number with a lovely chorus and great spacey guitar work towards the end. Masters Of War begins on a melancholic, dramatic tone and features yet again some lovely Gilmour-esque guitar work. This Is Not A Prog Song is a dynamic, enthusiastic poppy composition with a catchy melody and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, but oddly ends in a chorus of cacophony and screams, which detracts a bit from an otherwise excellent composition. I Watch Myself Sleeping is a simple rock ballad, a good radio-ready tune. Stranger mixes a powerful chorus with a lovely melody accompanied by acoustic guitar, and features a cool Flower Kings vibe towards the middle. River is a smooth melancholic ballad with beautiful lyrics, and an eerie Tomas Bodin-inspired middle part, to end on a more energetic version of the original melody. Choose What You Want To Look At (the working title of the album originally) is an energetic, frenzied number with a bit of theremin work and a catchy chorus. The album concludes with Turn Back The Clock which features a keyboard solo very reminiscent of Genesis' Entangled, followed by great guitar work and a wonderful chorus ending with a majestic finale.

This album is representative of the other RPWL material released over the years; brilliant production quality, heavily Floyd-influenced material with great melodies and harmonies and impeccable musicianship. A splendid album to add to your collection if you're a RPWL fan and for the casual listener, an excellent album to introduce yourself to the sound of RPWL, if you like melodic prog with beautiful harmonies and aren't bothered by their unashamed floydian influences.

my rating for THE RPWL EXPERIENCE : 8.7/10(album reviewed by Robert Dansereau, 21/03/2008)