Romislokus - 2003 - Lyon's Message

(29:27; Acid Dragon)

Track list:
1. Teryayu Vremya 4:06
2. Come Tomorrow 3:52
3. I Don't Resign 2:22
4. Trance Aviation Pilots 3:52
5. Luchshe By 3:33
6. Just a Dream 3:26
7. Look at the Sky 2:50
8. L'Amour 5:26

Line-up:
Yuri Smolnikov - vocals, guitars
Evgeniy Gorelov - keyboards
Mike Solo - guitars
Misha Brovarnik - bass
Irina Yunakovskaya - cello
Jim Moto - drums


Prolusion.
I do not know all that much about Russian band Romislokus, but I understand they were an active creative unit some 20 years ago with a succession of albums released over the span of a few years. Recently I got one of these into my possession: An album called "Lyon's Message", which was attached to an edition of the French progressive rock magazine Acid Dragon back in 2003.

Analysis.
While the Acid Dragon magazine is a progressive rock speciality publication, I do find that the band Romislokus may not be on top of the lists for bands to promote within that setting. While they certainly have their expressive ideas that correspond to many progressive rock ideals, the end result here is one that for me at least comes with a solid underground tag attached and with the word niche striking me as rather appropriate.

The core foundations of these compositions are songs that draw in impulses from melodic rock first and foremost. With a little bit of extra bite added by the electric guitar, and often with a playful to eccentric use of instrument details to add a quirky feeling to the landscapes explored.

A recurring element throughout is also the inclusion of more atmospheric laden passages, from minimalist floating sequences to orchestral inspired motifs, and along the way we do get a little bit of a cosmic vibe being present at times too. And arguably a little bit of post-rock too.

There is a playful and creative spirit to these excursions, and the structure of the songs will obviously be on the satisfying side of many progressive rock fans' experience, but the end result just sounds a little haphazard to me. Too little happening  at some times and too much on other occasions. And whenever a compelling arrangement plays out, it does tend to be cut short rather than explored a bit more at length. That the mix and production can be a little bit rough in places probably doesn't do this album any favors either.

Conclusion.
It would appear that this is a CD that isn't widely available at this point, as I haven't found too many traces of it online. If you have a desire to experience something rather different in nature it may be worth the effort to track this one down, as this is an album that does traverse into landscapes of a kind and nature that strikes me as on the atypical side of matters. That being said, this also strikes me as very much of a niche album with a finite niche appeal. But a production that, for the select few, will come across as something special I'd imagine.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, March 2025

Links:
http://www.romislokus.com/
http://www.aciddragon.eu/