Search - Parallel Or 90 Degrees :: More Exotic Ways to Die

R.I.P. Parallel or 90 Degrees

the faceless watcher | Columbus, OH | 12/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I guess there is little point in reviewing this album, considering that it is impossible to find these days. With all the acclaim the progressive rock community has bestowed up Andy Tillison's subsequent project, The Tangent, one might suspect that there would enough interest in Po90 to at least keep their albums in print. Such a shame.



More Exotic Ways to Die was my favorite work by the band, and, as an added incentive, the original release included a computer application with plentiful bonus material, such as most of Tillison and company's best tracks from previous albums. As for the album itself, it has a darker, more contemporary sound than either the Tangent or earlier Po90 (albeit not as macabre as the title suggests). More Exotic Ways to Die is not retro-prog (like the Tangent), nor is it some tepid neo-prog (like most Cyclops releases); rather, it is a larger successful merger of Po90's progressive influences with alternative rock and bits of electronica and metal.



With tastes leaning much more towards Porcupine Tree than Flowers Kings or Transatlantic, I find that this album suits me well. At this point, I would advise readers to listen for themselves, whether they enjoy Tillison's work with the Tangent or hate the Tangent but like darkish, modernized prog in general; it seems, however, that that is an implausible request these days. :("