2016 saw the release of 'Disconnected' which had not hit the headlines but was a continuation of what the Norwegians of 'Airbag' used to produce and, four years later, it was the turn of 'A Day at the Beach' to come out with only 6 titles but 4 of which exceeded 8 minutes.
It is with the 10 minutes of 'Machines and Men' that the album begins with already a nod to the rhythm and the sound effects of a certain 'Welcome to the Machine' from the 'Floyds' released 45 years ago (and yes that does not make us any younger) and whose repetitiveness of the theme is well in relation to that of the machines and the catchy rhythmic much than what we knew from 'Airbag', then, change of atmosphere with the first part of 'A Day at the Beach' which offers us a soaring and relaxing melody to listen to quietly with headphones (especially since the sound is really excellent). Follows 'Into The Unknow' which takes us on board for 10 minutes of atmospheric ambiance with the use of electronic sounds inherited from the 70s and which, after a break made of sound effects, ends with a beautiful 'Floydian' airy melody that rocks our meaning, then, again, change of style with 'Sunsets' which is much more rhythmic and which can recall the 'Blackfield' project of 'Steven Wilson'. The end of the album offers us, first of all the second part of 'A Day at the Beach' which is instrumental and which comes back to a fairly linear atmosphere, made of a soft crescendo to arrive on a 'Gilmourian' guitar solo, then finally 'Megalomaniac' which borders on 10 minutes closes 'A Day at the Beach' on a more melancholy note with a slow tempo which unrolls a new aerial melody then which increases in intensity in the middle of the title keeping the same common thread until a powerful explosion with a rhythm that accelerates to fall back as it had started.
In summary, the Norwegians of 'Airbag ', even if they do not revolutionize the genre, continue to offer us atmospheric compositions pleasant to listen to in a quiet place to relax after a hard day's work and 'A Day at the Beach' should undoubtedly appeal, beyond 'Airbag' fans, to an audience loving an aerial style with a predominant use of keyboards... | |
