Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hauntingly Beautiful, 13 Jul 2007
I'm a recent convert to Sylvan - a 5 piece German band based in Hamburg and often described as belonging to the 'prog rock', 'neo prog rock' or 'symphonic prog rock' genre. I prefer the latter; thematically the album is wide-ranging, dealing with the crucial human themes of life, love, death and anguish whilst musically balancing moving vocals with intricate keyboard and guitar work.
It is a blend that is unique in the sound it creates; grand sweeping melodies supported with solid supporting keyboards and off-set with some amazing bass work and detailed drumming. Presets tackles the grand themes of human life - it draws you in, the lyrics weaving a spell in contrast with the harmonies, standing in contrast to discordant guitars. There is no escaping the power and impetus of the band nor the sheer sensitvity of the song writing. There is pain here; deep seated, heart felt pain - for humans, for the world, for the way we treat each other. Yet there is also hope: touching, illuminating, always sultry but never overwhelming.
The album was written at the same time as the 2006 album 'Posthumous Silence'; to my mind, they belong together and perhaps should have been released as a double cd set. Posthumous Silence is completed by Presets and in some ways, brings the story full circle. Echoes of Marillion, IQ, Riverside, a smattering of Coldplay and even a Camel riff - the music is a superb balance of technique, creativity and power. This repays careful listening time and time again. It hasn't been off my cd player for months now. Kick back, absorb and enjoy; the themes and the songs simply won't leave you alone for some time afterwards. Highly recommended.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
5 stars for over 27 minutes of gret music and more, 16 Oct 2009
A lot of people have criticized this album. Yes, I do know the feeling of failed expectations. I have experienced it so deeply back in 1986 when after falling in love with the music of The Cult - Love I could not wait for another month for their follow up release. When the Electric has finally showed up in 1987. . . I was heartbroken. A lot of you guys have felt the same way about Presets. I was a bit disappointed in it after my first listen. First of all, unlike going commercial the way of The Cult, Sylvan just needed to take a few deep breaths after the Posthumous Silence experience which had to be so emotionally draining for Marco Gluhmann and the band. Posthumous Silence might be one of the ultimate progressive rock albums of all times structuring so well the build ups and outbursts of emotions and alternating them with the calming moments. Presets is mostly calming and yes, I probably agree with so many of you, 3 or 4 songs should not have found their way into the album. These are the songs which in some of your ears have destroyed the album. As you have probably learned in life...it is good to be able to look at things from a prospective different from your own. In fact such ability could often define our growth. Marco is such an incredibly sensitive soul; please give him a break...You are throwing away a baby with the bath water. Go listen to the title song again and again and again. Actually try to listen to songs I recommend 7 times, it is a great number. Presets might be one of their best songs, period. How about One Step Beyond and Former Life? They are both great. So we have 3 great songs here already, over 27 minutes of music. For me it is often enough to call an album great and I prefer albums with 3 great songs over albums with all songs pretty good. Especially in this decade when unlike in the 1970's you don't have to drop that needle in between songs. I actually think that Signed Away is very good and we should give Cold Souls and Transitory Times a chance to work their way into us as well. If it was not for 3 or 4 songs which maybe should not have been included and if they were exchanged by the hard sounding songs a lot more people would probably love this album and value it as much as I do. I have a feeling that you are not the only person who started reading this review simply to find out more about the freak who would give this album 5 stars. Remember, nothing helps us more in the end than the ability to be able to change our mind...after it has already been set.
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~ Sylvan
~ Sylvan
~ Porcupine Tree
![Sylvan - Posthumous Silence - Live At Kampnagel [2007] [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Q2zTLgLcL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
![Rpwl - The Rpwl Live...(Dvd & 2cd) [2009]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41O9fvfwu1L._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ RPWL
