Search - RPWL :: The RPWL Live Experience (Ltd. edition)

A True Masterpiece Of Music

Russ Bellinger | Bradenton, Florida USA | 05/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"RPWL has really acheived something unique with this release. The music is simply awesome and has such depth and a really timeless feel. It even has a touch of comedy and laughter when they make out how they appear to the music business (This Is Not A Prog Song) sounding a bit like XTC . They have come very, very close to becoming equals in songwriting and performing as their heroes Pink Floyd. But they have managed not to directly copy them in any way, thus creating their own unique sound. It is hard to put a finger on it exactly. One moment the band sounds like Pink Floyd or Dave Gilmour ( Breathe In, Breathe Out and Masters Of War) the next they sound like Camel or early King Crimson (Talk To The River). This creates a wonderful experience in sound and listening. It gets to the point about the corruption of this world and finds the soul of the individual man as it offers some spiritual depth and healing. The beautiful chords used in many of these songs is really fantastic. I haven't heard playing on this level in many years. It is classic. It rocks. It speaks. A true experience for the senses. If you don't buy another CD this year, make sure you have this one."

Respect the change...

Murat Batmaz | Istanbul, Turkey | 06/04/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In perspective of other RPWL albums, especially their critically acclaimed World Through My Eyes, their new disc sees the band growing into a darker and heavier entity. While the aesthetics that made the classic RPWL sound are still intact, they have also branced off into other musical terrains, with great results.



On The RPWL Experience, the band demonstrates a heavier emphasis on their lyrical aspect, particularly on the lengthier pieces. The album opener "Silence" is quite illustrative of this. It is a politically conscious track with a comparatively rawer edge, unlike their previous material. That said, in parts, it still is concocted from their Floydian side, but the main verses of the tune boast a distinct yearning for angrier guitar tones, full-sounding drums, and even some cool electronic elements. The transitions from these dirty passages to clean-sung acoustic verses is seamless and beautiful, creating a dynamic aura. However, it is the experimental instrumental break what makes it one of their best songs to date. Comprised of atonal guitar voicings, a fat bass figure, and some processed vocal parts, the tune eerily recalls mid-90's King Crimson or Porcupine Tree's Deadwing.



Likewise, they further develop this aesthetic on "Stranger", noteworthy for the juxtaposition of the band's anti-war statements and the tune's warfare-evoking musical landscape. Its opening riffs are unconventionally heavy, rife with sturdy bass lines and propulsive drumming. The chorus, on the other hand, is distinctly melodic with quieter acoustic chords and shimmering synth washes. The mid-point of the song displays a free-form jam with wah-drenched guitar wails and atypical bass accents.



Those anticipating a return to their previous album will revel in the predominantly acoustic track "Breathe In, Breathe Out", with some of Lang's most depressing lyrics (and the chorus is reminiscent of Blackfield); the somewhat Camel-like "Turn Back the Clock", complete with soaring synth elements; and perhaps "Where Can I Go", whose Beatles-like vocal harmony and sparse arrangement evoke Radiohead. That said, these tunes are all marked with darker themes lyrically than what the band did prior.



Also, their blend of sweet, Floydian textures with their newly found interest is perfectly exemplified on the Bob Dylan cover "Masters of War", which is adapted to a more symphonic context and blessed with a beautiful Gilmour-esque solo. Yogi Lang's ethereal vocals are some of his best. As for the ballad of the album, "River" starts out very mellow and acoustic driven, which yields a lush atmosphere. It segues into its second half, however, in a totally unexpected syle, as the middle section gets occupied by tense silences and a vague jazz element. These pieces signify the band has certainly improved songwriting wise.



That said, two tracks on the CD sort of break the flow of what I would otherwise call RPWL's high point. The jab at rock critics on "This Is Not A Prog Song", while funny on first listen (mostly because of lyrics that go like "The new one is the worst they have done" or "They are a German band trying to play the music of Pink Floyd"), does not fully serve the purpose of this album. Its deliberately simple structure and awfully noticeable pop element simply does not gel with the other tracks. Also, the ninth song "Choose What You Want to Look at", despite its uncompromising lyrics, is arguably their worst song to date. Written in a very modern-sounding style with rapid-fire vocals and such, I feel both this one and "This Is Not A Prog Song" should have been the bonus tracks to the album.



The RPWL Experiment is one of their best albums and a step away from their more cleanly produced Floydian works. It is one of their finest releases because there is so much to unravel here, not only musically but also from a lyrical standpoint. The artwork is also amazing, and reminds me of OSI's Free album in a strange way.



(Please note that this is a review of the regular addition, since I have not heard the bonus songs.)"

A Band On The Way Up

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 10/16/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You have to hand it to reviewer Murat Batmaz of Istanbul. Whenever he reviews a prog album, he does it in such a way as to make it hard to add anything useful to his comments. However, even though I greatly respect his opinion I have to differ with him on the overall quality of The RWPL Experience (Special Edition).

RWPL is definitely a band on the way up but I find the power of the vocals is often overwhelmed by the power of the music. I do enjoy this CD, but it is certainly not the powerhouse I was led to expect. The best songs are Silenced and Masters of War. Other than that, it is rather uneven. This Is Not A Prog Song is far too poppy, Stranger epitomizes my comments about the mismatch between the music and the vocals, Choose What You Want To Look At suffers in the beginning from some jivey rap-metal, and the final cuts Turn Back the Clock and Reach For the Sun sound like they are being played by an entirely different band.

Those complaints aside, there is a lot to like here as you listen to RWPL continue to evolve. The CD is called a "special edition" presumably because a pair of bonus tracks are tacked on. It comes with an attractive booklet filled with artwork, lyrics, and pertinent album information. If you are a fan of modern prog, by all means give RWPL a listen."