Seven Steps to the Green Door - Step in 2 My World           9/10

By Eduard Antoniu

Such a band name sounds as if from a computer game or book title. But in fact it reflects the very lineup. This shows stability. But their courage does not end here. Of the seven band members, three are vocalists. All three or pairs (with Lars Köhler always) are also co-lyricists for 8 of the 10+2 tracks of this German band’s 65-minute sophomore album.

Moreover, they include death metal vocals (the title track), and, as anticipated by the very writing of the album’s title, even rap (“Stay Beside”, “Rising Shore”, “Closer”). I can do without these but their prog niche shows tolerance, innovativeness and open mindedness.

Clearly, the mastermind is keyboardist Marek Arnold, who also plays saxophones, clarinet and electronic wind instrument. He is the songwriter for 4 tracks, co-writer for another 6 and even lyricist or co-lyricist for 5. Drummer Ulf Reinhardt co-writes 5 songs.

The music is very diverse. I can hear some Drama-era (“New Rising”) and Magnification-era Yes (“Attract Me”), Scorpions (“New Rising”, “Melissa”), Supertramp (“New Rising”, “Paid for Glance”, “Rising Shore”, “Out of Clouds”), Calling All Stations-era Genesis (“Stay Beside”), Kansas and Marillion (“Stay Beside”, “Paid for Glance”), techno-pop and Rush (the title track), jazz (“My Lovely Mr. Singing Club” – a quasi-instrumental), funk (“My Lovely Mr. Singing Club”, “Out of Clouds”), Gentle Giant and Dream Theater (“Attract Me”, “Rising Shore”). Van Halen (“Attract Me”), Ziff – a two-album German band that vanished after the late ‘90s (“Paid for Glance”, “Moon Talks to Me”, “Rising Shore”), hillbilly (“Paid for Glance”), Mike Oldfield “Woodhenge” (“Moon Talks to Me”), world and Motown (“Rising Shore”), Chris Squire “Lucky Seven”, ambient and Philip Glass (“Closer” – vocalist Anne Trautmann’s only co-writing credit and probably my favorite track), Pink Floyd “Shine on You Crazy Diamond Part VIII” (“Out of Clouds” – first bonus track, bassist Heiko Rehm’s only co-writing credit, where guitarist Andreas “Eddy” Gemeinhardt goes Holdsworthian).

Arnold can sound like Emerson, Jobson and Wakeman (“New Rising”). "Melissa" was written by vocalist Ronny Gruber when he and Arnold were in a side project, Testimony. It’s about a friend’s daughter as the only comfort for those who that friend left behind.

The second bonus track, “The Making of”, is a funny, experimental conclusion. It mixes a theme in “Out of Clouds”, Kraftwerk-like counting in multiple beats and sped up tape.

Noticeable guest appearances include Larry B. (from Marek Arnold’s other band Toxic Smile) – all vocals (“Moon Talks to Me”), Jens Vieweg – oboe (“New Rising”, “Melissa”, “Moon Talks to Me”), Jörg Baudach – trumpet (“New Rising”, “Rising Shore”).

Graphic artwork by designer Janine Rojé reminds of movies: Dune (band riding a Shai-hulud worm), Journey to the Centre of the Earth (“Eddy” under a gigantic mushroom), Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (band members hanging on taller plants, so a small rodent is like a giant monster - Lane, one of their two mascots; the other one is called Penny…).

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