After eight studio albums, one best-of album and six live albums, the spaceship RPWL penetrates into the infinite vastness of space and when we write the year 2019, more precisely star date 22 March 2019, the disc has landed.
With their four-man crew, they have dedicated themselves entirely to science fiction on the new LP. Singer and keyboarder Yogi Lang: “This time it didn’t turn out to be a concept album in the true sense. But there are seven short stories about science fiction. For us it was not only thematically very interesting, but also musically an unbelievable playground, which literally invited us to experiment with sounds and all imaginable musical stylistic devices”.
Thus, “Not Our Place To Be” begins with horror strings and electronic noises and immediately conveys the uncomfortable feeling of entering a strange planet. In contrast to this the following song “What I Really Need”, spreads a positive mood with delay guitars. But the space glider RPWL has not lost contact with earth, especially in this song the lyrics counteract the music and touch upon sensitive subjects, asking critical questions about the current consumer behaviour of mankind.
In general, the music of RPWL can best be assigned to art and progressive rock, but it is always song oriented. And the soft voice of Yogi Lang, which reminds a little of David Gilmour, holds everything together. While the last two albums Wanted and Beyond Man In Time were concept albums, this time there isn’t a coherent story – but science fiction is the common denominator.
Of course, there is always an underlying comparison with Pink Floyd, but the band has also fired it up themselves with the release and performance of the first conceptual live show, Pink Floyd’s The Man And The Journey. And to be compared with the early work of Pink Floyd is certainly not the worst reference, even and especially when Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd, David Gilmour) himself performs a song on the bass.
Guitarist Kalle Wallner, who shines especially in “Light Of The World” with his lyrical guitar playing: “After three live albums it was a lot of fun to create our own songs again. I am incredibly proud of the new album and can hardly wait until we can finally present it live on our extensive European tour in April!”
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