reviews

A very fresh and also direct albumt, which I find very pleasing.
Brother Ape knows how use a broad. range of styles and, in a skillful way, turn it in to something of their own. It is not neo, it is not too complex,
and also not too commercial. It's the perfect mix. An awesome album!! A must have.

5 / 5

added: Sunday, 17 April 2005

PROGGIES - Daniel Eggenberger

Yet another Swedish newcomer to the progressive scene, and a band that on it's debut has recorded some very mature and sincere music, at this point the future is wide open for them, I hope that many fans in the prog circles get a chance to hear this band, they are quite good.

MJBrady Published on: 31 May 2005
ProGGnosis - Progressive Rock & Fusion

Imagine a mix between UK, Weather Report, Yes, with a slice of Saga/ Styx. Then you come up with this unique outfit called Brother Ape. Progress Records could have yet another great thing going with Brother Ape. Comes highly recommended to progheads who search for something new & very unique. (Thanks to Hansi Cross for sending this to us.)

PROGPLANET - Progleo Rating 5 / 5

Furthermore, the production and the artwork are excellent, thus this album is an absolute 'must', you have to give it the time to grow on you.

Brother Ape is not really a newcomer, they have released some years ago an EP, but Progress Records has re-released it (and added some new tracks). After the promising debut of Liquid Scarlet the Swedish record label has once again acquired a 'diamant'. I'm very anxious to hear these guys live, hopefully they will find the way to our country.

Review by Claude / Prog-Nose

This superb album closes with the longest and
most incredible track "On the other side" yet again reaching for a perfect
blend of seventies American rock with a dash of contemporary prog. I hear elements of Saga, Yes and even Return to Forever genius and Weather Report darkness.

In short Brother Ape is one incredible new find and we have to thank Hansi Cross for enabling these guys to deliver an allround diverse and professional album which thanks to the help of Progress Records will now have an impeccable worldwide distribution.
Good reviews and healthy sales will undoubtedly push this band forward so we might look forward to more incredible
music and hopefully some live dates too.
Long may the ape reign ! Brother Ape has clearly signed for musical Apex!

John 'BoBo' Bollenbergwww.boborocks.be On The Rocks

Shangri-la is a more mature album than the On the other side debut album yet also a very varied album which takes you from rocking patches to fusion elements by means of splendid ballads. It surely confirms the quality of the band in terms of songs and technical skills. Compared to the debut album the band has lost its bass player and is now restricted to the trio format. In the recording studio this hasnt prevented them from recording some ace material so the only need for a fourth member to complete the band would merely be for live purposes. As a trio or quartet Im convinced the name of Brother Ape is already noted in many notebooks, laptops and above all … minds !

No doubt one of this years best albums so far.

John 'Bo Bo' Bollenberg | www.boborocks.be | www.progressiveworld.net

My personal favorite on this release is the one track that sounds a bit different from the rest; "Inside You". A driving rocker with a rougher sound than the other tracks, with a bit of a Living Colour feel to it.
So if you'e looking for the brooding melancholic music, the introverted moods and reflections on the darker sides of life, Brother Ape may not be to your fancy. But if you're into 70's prog, and like music that you can hum along to and that'll bring you joy and make you smile, this release is a must.

Rating: 8 (out of 10)
Reviewer: Olav Björnsen Prog4you

Probably this kind of music can best be described as melodic fusion, if this music does not really exist, then Brother Ape has invented it.The albums ends with a reprise of the starting track, but in a pure acoustic version.
Shangri-La is clearly a new and important step in the evolution of this Swedish band, perhaps a threat for their fellow countrymen The Flower Kings. This is progressive rock, played by a young dynamic trio, maybe the mainstream press could discover these guys, or is this wishful thinking? In my previous review I hoped to see them live in our country, with this album my envy has only increased!
Rating: 9 (out of 10)
PROG-NOSE - Claude "Clareyon" Buschem

Shangri-La sees the band continuing in what is already their very own sound, they are a mature band, that can only do greater things in the future. Here is music that defies typecasts, has a listener friendly sound and is impressive from a musicians standpoint, they stand as a rare sounding band in a day where many are following a set of rules to qualify themselves as a progressive band, not so with Brother Ape, as they are rewriting the rules, giving progressive music a new direction without being obnoxious, angular or strange.

MJBradley ProGGnosis

I really dont have a favorite song on this CD because simply they all sound good to me. I like this CD on whole better than their first one. It just flows a lot better to my ears. Brother Ape has the potential to becoming a name that will be remembered pleasurably in decades to come. Theyre top notch symphonic progressive with leanings toward the neo side with some fusion and rock elements thrown in for good measure. This is one CD that I will be returning to quite often so I would classify it as a recommended purchase.

Reviewed by Ron Fuchs on December 24th, 2006 Prognaut

What an album, this one´s gonna stay in my cd player for quite a time. And yes, you´ve guessed it, i have to rate this superb outing 5 planets. And hats of to Hansi Cross (and the band) for superb production!! Final words? Well, go Ape.....this is one album you need in your fine collection of artrock/progrock.

by tlarz Sundstrom | Progplanet 5/5|

One of the main reasons for that I will appoint the "Brother Ape - III" to one of the very best releases so far this year, the band's ability to combine very skilful writing with innovative variation and ideas, and the ability to create music that is varied both in terms of song structure and feeling. In the beginning, I had as I said a little difficult to get a grip on the plate, but once it is seated so sits on extremely hard solid.
Review by Staffan Vässmar 9 / 10 ARTROCK.SE

Also, through listening to the album, you really get the feeling that this is a band that are having fun and enjoying making their music, and they really seem to play as a band, rather than individuals with egos.
Im guessing those people out there who mainly listen to prog probably may not get where this album is coming from, but for those that look a little further beyond the horizon, this is truly one worth seeking out.
review by HANNAH SYLVESTER / METAL DISCOVERY 8,5 / 10

One thing is for sure, this band has an inescapable sound, they are what they are, and each cd now has proven that. They have been a band long enough now to have realized their identity. Now it is just a matter of more people getting an opportunity to hear them. They are kind of a mellower sound, nearly jazz at times, very atmospheric, soft vocals, dynamic drumming, standout guitar work, and as mentioned very deep coloring in the compositions. Yet now that I have reviewed three of their albums, I still wonder how this will connect with the progressive community, are they fusion enough? Heavy enough? complex enough? The progressive rock community is a demanding one, and a band has to offer something special in order to create a buzz. I fear that unless Brother Ape were to go more into the realms of fusion/symphonic, by instituting far more instrumentation and less vocals, they may just remain a blip on the progressive rock radar. Yet they remain a fine band for this reviewer.
Review by MJ BRADY / PROGGNOSIS

The compos also often avoid the beaten track: energy the more sweet harmonies may precede any sixties beauty. The group has visibly expanded its influences, and does not seek to remain in a box (everything we love in this webzine).
If combos as Riverside, RPWL Sylvan or enjoy a favorable buzz, it is scandalous that Brother Ape does not have the same treatment.
Review by David Taugis 8 / 10 metal chroniques

As the previous two albums this III has NO lack of creativity, smooth ambiences, rythmic percusions, nice lyrics...but the ensemble of these guys is the most more remarkable thing, they are well skilled like any other classic Swedish-prog band. They open III with the powerful Universal Eyes and remind us very quickly The Jerk or New Shangri La, the song it´s plenty of percussions, power and in a good mood like in the previous albums. Personally I like very much Immortal and No answer this last one with barely noticeable electronic beat/arrangement wich fits very nice on it. This is another great job from the APEs highly recommended for fans or just another prog-head wich wants to hear something good. Despite is not a Masterpiece of prog I think they won´t be so far to make one very soon.
Review by Rafael Balboa 4 / 5 PROG ARCHIVES