Up-Load UK, Gigs News & reviews The Dreams Of Men

The Dreams Of Men by Pallas
Inside Out Records, Released October 24th 2005

Epic album from Aberdeens finest.

In a world of disposable pop and brutal rock it is quite refreshing to hear an album like “The Dreams Of Men”. Aberdeen based symphonic rockers Pallas combine influences that go from Rush and Pink Floyd to Muse and moulded into their own well honed style. This epic album has the depth of 70’s progressive rock mixed with contemporary visceral flavours and textures.

While the likes of Yes and King Crimson can seem somewhat inaccessible these days, Pallas manage to bring classic themes and codas kicking and screaming into the twenty first century. The craftsmanship is quite evident and the slick production by guitarist Niall Mathewson and bassist Graeme Murray is lush in places, raw in others but always appropriate to the song in question.

This album features epic fare in the form of opening track Bringer Of Dreams, it’s haunting opening section giving way to a soaring guitar and introducing the symphonic force of the band in full flow. Ghostdancers tells the tale of European immigrants starting a new life in a new world as the world of the original inhabitants slip into obscurity. The music progresses from an opening lone violin and ends with an American Indian tribal chant lamenting the passing of the indigenous people. Too Close To The Sun is the cautionary tale of Icarus with stabbing keyboards and Pallas’s trademark staccato pounding of guitars and bass.

It’s not all vast soundscapes though. Messiah sees Pallas getting unusually political and also treats us to an uncharacteristically funky bass line, wah wah guitars and ends it all with a female chorus. Mr Wolfe starts with a dual battery courtesy of the drums and Ronnie Browns keyboards that gives way to complex driving bass lines that conjure up images of Muse. Invincible straddles the line between epic and rocker, with characterisations I don’t recall from a Pallas song since the days of Euan Lowson.

Northern Star is a low key instrumental that gives the album a moment to take a breath in the midst of many highs and the CD is rounded off by The Last Angel, bringing the album to a conclusion in a crescendo of church organs and opera.

The contrasts and many different styles of song and playing showcase Pallas’s many strengths and pretty much has something for everyone. Perhaps those who like their albums epic from start to finish will find the more up-tempo tracks fragmenting the album but I found the variety very welcome. For me, this is probably the most satisfying album Pallas have ever produced and it’s a tribute to them that they manage to keep certain trademark motifs in their music while still sounding fresh and vital. The packaging is also worthy of note, Mike Bentleys design work presenting a collage of images to complement each song. For fans and completists this album is available in a two disk edition, the second disk making up remixes, outtakes and jamming sessions. For the casual fan or someone looking for music made by craftsmen the one disc will suffice.

http://www.pallas-uk.com/
Downloads
http://www.pallas.f2s.com/samples/ghostdancers.mp3

Line Up:
Alan Reed – Vocals
Niall Matthewson – Guitar
Graeme Murray – Bass
Ronnie Brown – Keyboards
Colin Fraser - Drums

Produced by Niall Mathewson and Graeme Murray

Track List
The Bringer Of Dreams
Warriors
Ghostdancer
Too Close To The Sun
Messiah
Northern Star
Mr. Wolfe
Invincible
The Last Angel