The beautiful thing about prog is that it always sounds different. There is almost no definite rules, so the musicians are free to do everything they want. It's a constant pleasure to see how prog bands get inspired by the good old acts such as Yes, Dream Theater or Rush and yet are redefining the genre by adding elements to it that have never been there before, thus develop their own, unique style.
I feel that The Contortionist is one of the most distinctive and thrilling bands at the moment, being a relatively young one. Their music sounds as if the guys from Indiana had created their own world where all the long-known rules of music don't play a dominant role. What matters is the passion for harmony and the free development of their creativity. They never seem to force anything and one never has the feeling that the band wants the sound to go into a certain direction. The Contortionist just let the ideas flow and construct them very intelligently without trying to fit in a genre.
The first and only word that came into my mind when I first listened to "Language" was ethereal. In fact, it's so difficult to characterize this album with the aid of adequate adjectives for this very unique and introverted style of music. I could tell you stuff about time signatures, song structure, harmonies and melodies and bandy musical terms around but this isn't an album you can just describe. No. You sit down and start listening to it yourself and I guarantee that you will enjoy it from the first second until the last. All the technical stuff every prog fan loves is there, don't worry, and the vocals are just beyond beautiful. But the most remarkable thing about the record is that harmony, chords, beat and groove together result into absolute balance and perfection.
"Language" takes the listener on a journey to unknown spheres. For me, this album is pure enjoyment and recreation but at the same time a sophisticated and with that an entirely satisfying listen. It's not common at all that a record sounds entirely flawless in my ears, but this one nearly does.
Since The Contortionist basically created their own little musical cosmos, they're hardly comparable to any progressive band. Just take a listen and drift away. The music speaks for itself.
