Kategorie: CD-Reviews | Genre: Worldmusic, Rock | Heft: Jahrgang 2014, eclipsed Nr. 163 / 9-2014 | VÖ-Jahr: 2014 | Wertung: 7.5/10 | Label: Media Man Group | Autor: MB
Yossi Sassis' exit from Orphaned Land came as a surprise at first, as the 39-year-old Israeli was not only a founding member but also one of the creative driving forces behind the "Opeth of the Middle East", as Steven Wilson once aptly called them. However, it speaks for the artistic integrity of Sassis to want to dedicate oneself to new visions and horizons. For a man who once gave up his job at Microsoft to become a musician, the step was only logical. But one thing remains: Also on his second solo album "Desert Butterflies" Sassi remains a border crosser between East and West, combines rock and world music in eleven wonderful compositions, lets traditional folk instruments (Sassi himself masters 17 (!) string instruments) collide with progressive rock elements. Only Sassi said goodbye to the metal sounds of Orphaned Lands. As guest musicians Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal (Guns n' Roses), Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth) and Mariangela Demurtas (Tristania), among others, enrich this subtle and iridescent album which, with a few exceptions, is purely instrumental.
Top track: Orient Sun
