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Gazpacho: Missa Atropos

Progressive/Art Rock

3.5/5.0

Kscope Music
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by Craig Hartranft,  03.21.2011

Norway's Gazpacho has the privilege of being a band that confounds description or definition by genre. Okay, here's a Norwegian band named after a Spanish tomato-based cold vegetable soup playing progressive at rock and singing in English. Now, there's some cause for interest.

Missa Atropos is Gazpacho's eighth album of unclassifiable music. The umbrella is progressive rock, even alternative (possibly) art rock. Frankly, it doesn't really matter that much. I like the music. It's not that it's different. Hardly so. You might find others doing the same. But Missa Atropos is hypnotic and persuasive. I'm not sure Missa Atropos will get off my shelf (or hard drive) on a regular basis, but it gives my ears and mind pause.

Missa Atropos concerns deep themes of death, fear, and loneliness. (More specific details can be found on their website.) The music is often heavy and foreboding, which fits the themes. But it's also subtle and solemn as well. Don't expect to be uplifted or encouraged. If you need Ambien to help you sleep or Welbutrin to soothe your depression, then pass on this work.

This work is both hard and hearty to digest. It's progressive, art, and alternative at it's best with a dark sense. Ultimately, there's no song to point to as significant, no stand out track. Missa Atropos is a blur of despondency and creativity, and dangerously introspective to the point of despair. This is not 'happy' music, even for progressive rock.

What then shall we say about Gazpacho's Missa Atropos? It's dark, despondent, but artfully creative progressive rock. Just don't be in a depressed mood when you listen. You'll only get worse. Recommended (if you have a stable emotional and mental constitution).

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

What then shall we say about Gazpacho's Missa Atropos? It's dark, despondent, but artfully creative progressive rock. Just don't be in a depressive mood when you listen. You'll only get worse.

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