DisAgreement Online

Coming exactly one year and a day after its predecessor, Forgotten Shrines is the second album by Seaorm, a band that started with the rhythm section of Russian psychedelic rock band Vespero teaming up with Ángel Ontalva, a Spanish guitarist playing in avant prog band October Equus who also teamed up with Vespero before. What used to be a trio has become a quartet with the addition of keyboarder Víctor Rodríguez who also is a member of October Equus, so that the current incarnation of Seaorm consists of two members each of Vespero and October Equus.

This doesn’t mean that the music on Forgotten Shrines is a mix between those two bands. Whereas the songs on the debut Olkhon still had manageable lengths, Forgotten Shrines comes with three tracks only, a little like certain prog classics (Close To The Edge by Yes; Pawn Hearts by Van Der Graaf Generator), except that Seaorm prefer freer forms.

The opener and title track is a twenty minutes tour de force that is held together by a gorgeous unforgettable guitar melody, with plenty of room for improvisation and experimentation. The keyboards add depth and nuance, and there’s even some well-placed sequencer parts that give an electronic touch. The rhythm section performed by the brothers Ark and Ivan Fedorov never tries to take centre stage, but they also don’t stay discreetly in the background. The drumming is quite varied and percussive, the bass playing has a definite jazz feeling. Above it all is of course Ontalva’s incredible guitar playing that has never been as moving as on this song.

The following songs are even quieter and moodier. The thirteen-minute-long Animas In The City Of Stones feels like an ambient piece, with Berlin school sequencer motifs that at times make you think of Tangerine Dream with a lead guitarist. The Garden Of Lost Memories is at eleven minutes the shortest track on this album, and adds a strong Asian flair. It’s also a very mellow piece of music and a good finish to this astonishing album.

Ángel Ontalva’s albums with Vespero were always quite rousing affairs. With Seaorm he and his co-musicians dive deep within themselves to find their quiet centre. Forgotten Shrines is the perfect soundtrack for the evening when you get back home after a stressful day at the office. Put on the music, close your eyes, and let these guys take you on a wonderful sonic journey.