Share the post "Album review: 4th LABYRINTH – Quattro Stagioni"
4th Labyrinth Music [Release date 04.09.15]
Described as classic progressive rock & pop band, 4th Labyrinth is much more than that. They are a band that reaches well beyond the 4 seasons concept of the album title. And while they might surprise the unsuspecting contemporary music fan brought up on a strict demarcation of genres, they are all the better for that.
They have a spirit of adventure in their music that rides rough-shot over familiarity, cliché and low level expectations.
Their songs strike an essential balance between enthusiasm and an ability to give the album a unique musical vision and identity
The thoughtful lyrics, catchy riffs, good hooks and expansive arrangements cleverly incorporate occasional eclectic elements. It’s all subtly shaped together into a coherent set of songs that flow from beginning to the end.
‘Quattro Stagioni’ glistens with soaring melodies, subtly crafted songs, intuitive playing and consistently good vocals from the keyboard playing vocalist Marcel Kunkel
The rest of the band comprises guitarist John Harper, Claudia McKenzie on bass, and Tom Winch on drums. Each band member fully contributes to a set of polished arrangements that leave enough room for the ensemble to stretch out.
‘Open The Gate’ features an ambient sounding piano and glockenspiel on an orchestral arrangement that draws the listener into an album full of well crafted songs, strong harmonies and stirring melodies that frequently reach for the epic.
In sharp contrast, ‘Get Out Alive’ is a big riff-led piece, with 80’s sounding synth pulses, an uplifting vocal with a booming chorus and strong harmonies that sound like The Motors, but the song is no worse for that.
‘Wonderful Song’, is a jaunty piece that reflects the title, as Marcel evokes the whimsical pop of Colin Blunstone, before he slips into a falsetto mode with echoes of the white boy soul of Daryl Hall. It’s a style he extends on the funky guitar and pop melodic sensibility of ‘Kings For A While’.
Marcel explores his full vocal range on the intro to ‘Shining Star’, on a song that showcases his dual abilities as a singer and songwriter, before the band adds a languid, brushed stroked accompaniment
‘Rule the World’ is another confident ballad on which Marcel glides over some subtle band interplay and John Harper’s integral ascending guitar solo.
4th Labyrinth has a refreshing belief in song-led values. Their arrangements support the songs rather than merely glue them together, so allowing the constituent parts to breathe. The band is anchored by the locked in rhythm section and framed by a roomy production that focuses on the album as a whole
Listen to the extended vocal sweep on the chorus of ‘Love’ which has echoes of 10cc at their peak. It’s a song very much in the contemporary singer songwriter vein, but without the doomy shoe gazing aspects. The melody rises beautifully, the harmonies sparkle and the guitar has just enough edge to drive the song home.
A mid-number key change momentarily threatens to throw them off their course, but Marcel’s impassioned vocal resolves things as he soars majestically into the outro.
The vocal line and music accompaniment of ‘How Do I Make You Feel’ cleverly mirrors the questioning title. They rock out on ‘Take Me High’ and broach the anthemic on ‘Leave’. Marcel then evokes Colin Blunstone on the first part of ‘Pretty Coloured Faces (For You)’, before the band joins him on an enveloping production that has the feel of an indie version of a Phil Spector.
The final piano-led ballad ‘A Simple Song’ rounds off an impressive debut album that has enough depth, weight and substance to warrant repeated explorations. ****
Review by Pete Feenstra
Pete Feenstra presents his Rock & Blues Show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio every Tuesday at 19:00 GMT, and “The Pete Feenstra Feature” on Sundays at 19:00
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Next session: Sunday 19 January
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: 4th LABYRINTH – Quattro Stagioni"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
