Worthy of careful investigation by the Proggiest amongst the Fireworks & Rocktopia readership.
The reality of Ontofield is that "they" are in fact just one extremely talented individual – John Graham – and this debut offering ("me on a plate" John describes it as) transcends the already often blurred boundaries between progressive rock and progressive metal and reveals not only the musical influences that he has absorbed but also his own unique slant on this style of music.
At over 60 minutes, the album is certainly a "progonaut" and is additionally quite a dense work in many places (especially the 18 minute title track and the 16 minute 'The Key'), so the intending listener is advised to allow plenty of time and multiple listens to begin to understand and appreciate not only the music, but also the lyrical content. While 'Moon Handed', 'My Machine' and 'Underlying Symptoms' employ more a more usual song structure, the other three, 'Sleeping With Fractals', 'Holographic Rain' and 'The Key', employ a more narrative style, although all six are metaphor laden, and are thus heavy with surreal imagery.
According to the web site, the album focuses upon various themes: from flirting with the past and buried memories, to exploring possibilities of where we came from and why we are here, in addition to considering the lies and manipulation by various crypto-totalitarian terrorist corporations masquerading as "states" and "governments", through their owned mass media juggernaut and the effect it has upon us: the "bewildered herd" and the human mind in general. Apparently there's also stuff about sausages – but I haven't discovered it!
A plethora of instrumentation is used much of it programmed, I guess, but there is nothing overtly ostentatious or out of place and with every additional listen the various nuances come to the fore. If there is a weakness, it lies in Graham's rather one-dimensional vocal delivery, although arguably the lack of a really emotional component suits the intended and contrasting style of each of the six tracks.
I was married to a mathematician for over 25 years, so I'm bloody certain I have slept with fractals, if not the entire Mandelbrot set! Anyway, this album is certainly worthy of careful investigation by the Proggiest amongst the Fireworks & Rocktopia readership ...
Paul Jerome Smith
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