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Astral Archetype
Deconstructing a Coincidence
Overall: 3.5 Stars (out of 4)
Musicianship: 3.5 Stars
Songwriting: 3.5 Stars
Originality: 3.5 Stars
Deconstructing a Coincidence may very well go over the listener's head. This largely instrumental prog rock is awash with the kind of spaced-out melodies and anti-hooks found only in this kind of music. The arrangements are undefined, and the lyrics are cryptic at best. Overall, it's the kind of CD that will gleefully baffle the listener.
On the first spin, that is. After a couple more listens, it will most likely become glued to the CD player. It's hard not to wonder if this is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Is prog rock really supposed to be this damn catchy?
On the other hand, it's certainly not typical of most prog. Instead of noodling around and falling into instrumental self-indulgence (which, sorry, is never interesting, no matter how hard a song is to play), Astral Archetype get to the point. The four songs clock in at under sixteen minutes. At the end of the day, the listener only wants more.
But there's no use trying to describe how infectious the vocal parts are in "Phoenix is Rising," or how absorbing the guitar work is in "Synge." Prog is a kind of music designed to work on every level. And, on this CD, Astral Archetype has done just that.
-- Kevin McKeon
online link to review: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=27852566&blogID=417057805 - The Compendium (Kevin McKeon)
Astral Archetype - DECONSTRUCTING A COINCIDENCE: Steve Murtaugh, who used to send us a lot of review material (under Orange Entropy Records, co-founded with Steve Zimmerman), sent this little gem of a CD in for our thoughts on it. Strong rock-orientation, with cosmic overtones, to be sure; there is definite high talent & energy on display for your aural appendages! Steve's guitar & vocals are joined by bass/vox from Kevin Boyle and drums from Tom Burget, and it's immediately evident that the 3 or so years they spent building the band left them with an almost telepathic grasp of direction... I especially felt that on "Minefield", a full-blown adventure in/of itself. Recording is also excellent, though next time 'round (yah, even on a demo), I'd like to see the trax embedded with "Disk At Once"... that's only a minor crit, though, as their energy for driving you (& your mind) off into far corners of the galaxy is notable. I give this a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for any/all who want to experience basic rockin' in "excursionary" mode. Get more information from their MYSPACE site by clicking on the band title above, or emailing astralarchetype@yahoo.com Rotcod Zzaj
online link to review: http://zzaj.freehostia.com/Z83Reviews.htm - Rotcod Zzaj
Discography
Deconstructing a Coincidence EP - 2007
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Bio
All that exists is comprised of the vibration of tiny particles that once shared a single, compressed point in space. These subatomic particles evolved into the stars and the planets and all forms of life. The knowledge of this cosmic harmony and our heritage as celestial beings is shared by all people. It is passed down as part of the collective unconscious. This instinctual awareness is the Astral Archetype.
Astral Archetype formed in early 2005 when Kevin Boyle and Steve Murtaugh met and began talking music. The two felt that their diverse but not identical musical tastes might complement each other perfectly and began getting together to jam and write, eventually bringing in drummer Tom Burget to complete the first line up of Astral Archetype. With the lineup of Burget, Boyle, and Murtaugh, Astral Archetype played a variety of venues in the Philadelphia region including John & Peter's in New Hope, The Fire, Fergie's, and Eris Temple in Philadelphia, as well as the Rusty Nail in Ardmore, PA. The trio also self recorded their debut EP Deconstructing a Coincidence, which was mixed by Radio Eris' Matt Stevenson.
In 2008, the second line up of Astral Archetype began performing with Chris Kulp (Mischief Brew, Red Devil) on drums. The new trio have performed at the Highwire Gallery and The North Star Bar in Philadelphia, and at the Rusty Nail in Ardmore, PA.
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