Rak - Lepidoptera (2004)

Rak biography
It's a challenge to make a bio of Prog bands like RAK from Switzerland, they have a good website full of photos and links to reviews (In German) but absolutely no information about the history of the band, influences of the musicians or anything that could help people to know them better, something that Progheads love to discover, so this bio will be short:

The band was formed in Switzerland in the XXI Century and play a melodic form of Symphonic (At least they have samples) the band is formed by the ex THONK member Mark "RAK" Grassi in the keyboards, Dave Thwaites (aka Zoz) in the vocals, Mike Liechti (Drums), Sam Siegenthaler (Guitar), Tobias Reber (Touch Guitar) and Silvana Trepp in the violin.

Their only release is the conceptual "Lepidoptera" (2004) which is in the borderline between Symphonic and Neo Prog that presents influences from Genesis (4 men era), Marillion, The Flower Kings and Spock's Beard but with a totally different and very modern atmosphere, something I can't deny is that the approach is very original.

The album tells two stories, the first one is the journey of the Monarch Butterfly and the second one is the story of a girl who in order to survive is forced to change, interesting and well developed as the music, very good but not exceptional.

I believe the album is a must have, not only for the quality but because this is a new approach to old Symphonic Prog for a new century, only will ask them to provide more information in their already good website for those of us interested in finding more about them.

Iván Melgar Morey - Perú
вот что пишет участник нашего форума http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=106851
es, 5 stars.GO AND BUY IT!!! I wish I could change something in this world. I'd give a copy of this album to every ProgHead on this site and beyond, because it is BEAUTIFUL!!!

Terribly underrated concept Masterpiece from Swiss band with weird name RAK. Don't pay much attention to the length of songs: it's a concept story more than an hour long. It's very hard to review this CD: it contains elements of almost every Prog genre - from ELP-like bombastic bits (lots of organ scattered through the album, also a lot of piano and synth sounds...very good keyboardist - he's not the centre of everything, so you can concentrate right on the music without getting angry about his immense ego ;-) ) to MARILLION-like emotional ballads (piano-only "Dream like These"); from PAIN OF SALVATION-like metal (what a singer! Imagine a mixture of FISH and that Geoff from QUEENSRYCHE!) to spacy PORCUPINE TREEish spots; from Scandinavian-like darkness to the light of more Folkish tunes...

The main basis of it all - the Holy MELODY and the blessed EMOTIONS, the very things I adore in Prog! Another recent discovery of mine along with MILLENIUM's "Interdead". This album is recommended TO ALL PROG-FANS!!! Instead of meandering into hyped average bands or devoting yourself to 70s (G)Oldies try this one!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! A MUST!!!!!!!!!





Origin: кажись Перу
Жанр: Symphonic Prog
Год: 2004
Источник:: из моей коллекции - диск не фирменный, был фирменный, хотел выкинуть, но купили за 4 доллара(отдавал 20)риповал сам

Studio Album, released in 2004

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. To The Refuge (5:30)
2. Metamorphosis: one (2:56)
3. Metamorphosis: two (1:51)
4. Coming To Terms (2:32)
5. Lepidoptera: Freefall (1:01)
6. Lepidoptera: Beast (1:41)
7. Lepidoptera: Savage (1:55)
8. Dreams Like These (5:59)
9. The Consequences (3:26)
10. Metamorphosis: three (4:45)
11. Those Bright Wings (5:22)
12. Last Words (2:23)
13. Requiem (3:27)
14. Flashback (1:45)
15. Bumblebee Chase (1:38)
16. Play Possum (1:45)
17. Preparation (0:50)
18. Departure (4:22)
19. Migration (6:28)
20. Release (3:01)

Total Time: 62:35
Line-up / Musicians

- Marc Grassi Rak / keyboards
- Dave Thwaites (aka Zoz) / vocals
- Sam Siegenthaler / guitar
- Tobias Reber / touch guitar
- Mike Liechti / drums
- Silvana Trepp / violin, vocals
- Ursine Barandun / cello
- Claudine Egger & Rosy Wisler / backing vocals
Releases information

CD Circle Records CR002 (2004)

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Thank You !

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