Album Review: Egor Lappo – Reasonable Nonsense (Self Released)

‘Reasonable Nonsense’ is the sixth album from prolific Russian solo artist Egor Lappo, out on August 16th, 2024. The album’s title is a play on the absurdity of life, reflecting on how major life events (such as death) can be explained easily with logic but are incredibly difficult to overcome in reality.

By now, it’s safe to say that I am pretty familiar with the music that Egor Lappo creates having reviewed three of his previous albums. Yet, still the prolific and talented artist finds ways to surprise and while this new album is a return to his prog-metal roots, it’s not without numerous eclectic infusions that add layers of intrigue and excitement to the nine-track experience.

This is up there as one of the artists strongest overall pieces as it has a very consistent sound and it flows exceptionally well.

Opening with poppy accessibility and an overall intriguing prog soundscape, Recurring Dreams and Long Gone Years prove to be a lovable start for the album. Whereas the former is an early example of Lappo’s anthemic style, the latter is an early example of the retro-tinged emotion that oozes out of the release. Lappo is clearly more confident than ever when it comes to showing his softer and more sensitive side, and a track like Break the Spell is certainly him at his poppiest.

Seemingly aware that the palate might need refreshing, the album takes a more vigorous direction with Where Nothing Exists and any questions surrounding the ‘heavier’ aspect of this release are answered here. This one is particularly ‘in your face’, creatively intense, and the perfect track to sit in between the poppy former track and the dreamy catchiness of Falling.

Have you noticed the different era vibes that have cropped up so far? Some 80s, some 90s, and plenty of 00s. If not, Light Pollution will send flashes of retro AOR through your mind at immense speed. One hell of a blast too.

Following the title track, a short piece of instrumental showing off (why not?), Lappo continues to delight with a handful of varied efforts. Delivering something quite concentrated with Unenviable Inevitable and something dynamic with Shy-Hearted (maybe the heaviest track of all). Two of the album’s most effective and memorable efforts. Followed by Bloodline, which is something that sits in the power-ballad camp. There’s never anything wrong with that and Lappo does deliver a rousing and sentimental finish to his excellent new release.

Egor Lappo – Reasonable Nonsense Track Listing:

1. Recurring Dreams
2. Long Gone Years
3. Break the Spell
4. Where Nothing Exists
5. Falling
6. Light Pollution
7. Reasonable Nonsense
8. Unenviable Inevitable
9. Shy-Hearted
10. Bloodline

Links

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