Apogee - Conspiracy Of Fools (2018)

APOGEE is the well-established side Project by Versus X singer, guitarist and composer Arne Schäfer. ‘Conspiracy Of Fools’ is Arne’s second release on Progressive Promotion Records. On this album he composed all of the songs, sings and plays most of all instruments, including electric and acoustic guitars, key-boards and bass, while the acoustic drum set is played by Eberhard Graef. Together they revive the typical characteristics and qualities of the classical progressive rock, which have been defined in the golden age of Prog by bands like Jethro Tull, Yes, Genesis and Gentle Giant, which are Arne’s main influences, but also complemented with hints of Rush, Zappa, UK and oth-ers, forming a highly original and recognizable musical style.

Although well accessible throughout, the six Longtracks on the new album avoid superficial mainstream, keeping a well-constructed bow of tension, with carefully arranged dynamics, classical influenced harmonic structures, symphonic elements and associative lyrics, spiced by odd meters, guitar and key-board solos, inviting the listener to follow a highly emotional, complex and adventurous journey through the history of pro-gressive rock. Five of the six songs are longtracks in the region between 10 and 16 minutes, the remaining is a shorter accous-tic song.

‘Conspiracy Of Fools’ features more vocal harmonies than the previous ones and some soundscapes from newly acquired vir-tual instruments.