Metamorphosis

METAMORPHOSIS is the project of Swiss composer/keyboardist/drummer Jean-Pierre Schenk, born in 1953. At age 19, he learned to play drums on his own and a year later, he was already sharing the stage with a number of rock and jazz musicians. In 1971, alongwith guitarist Giovanni Esposito, he created the band NATURE whose music was very much inspired by PINK FLOYD. Years later, and after looking for the ever-elusive manager, NATURE split up. In 2001, Schenk and Esposito joined forces again and invited bassist Dominique Schlafer aboard. Guitarist David Grillon and flutist Milena Zaharieva, who appear on their first album, would soon become permanent band members also.

All of METAMORPHOSIS' albums still bear a strong Floydian streak, with shades of ELOY and especially ALAN PARSONS: extremely laid-back music, even melancholic, full of magnificent keyboards and wailing guitars. The compositions are accessible and memorable, the sound is absolutely gorgeous and the vocals, sung by Schenk himself, are as laid back as the music. If you're in a hurry while listening to this album, you may be expecting fireworks that never come. However, if you like your music warm, serene and peaceful throughout (say, a sort of PINK FLOYD without the "anger"), the album won't disappoint

Highly recommended if you like the FLOYD's "The Division Bell" or "A Momentary Lapse of Reason". Should also appeal to fans of SATELLITE and RPWL, whose vocalist Yogi Lang sounds a bit like Schenk.