{"id":11080,"date":"2025-11-14T20:43:25","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T19:43:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/?p=11080"},"modified":"2025-12-06T17:30:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T16:30:58","slug":"nick-fletcher-the-mask-of-sanity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/cd-recensie\/nick-fletcher-the-mask-of-sanity\/","title":{"rendered":"Nick Fletcher – The Mask of Sanity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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For his new album, guitarist\/keyboardist Nick Fletcher drew inspiration from the writings of Swiss psychologist\/psychiatrist Carl Joseph Jung. That is why this conceptual album features various archetypes\/personality types. The seven (mainly instrumental) tracks form a blend of jazz, fusion and (prog) rock, among other genres. In addition to guitar, Nick also plays synthesizer and bass (track four). Clare Lindley, violinist for Big Big Train, among others, is one of the guest musicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘As above, So Below’ has an honest, sober start. The violin playing in particular is touching, with a beautiful blend of high and low notes. With an unexpected twist, the atmosphere changes, the music becomes lighter and seems to \u201c tell\u201d a story of bliss. The tempo and volume are higher, and remain so. Yet there are plenty of twists and turns. There is a lot of variation in the guitar playing. The sudden ending feels very natural.
The wordless vocals and pleasant rhythm create a pleasant atmosphere in \u201cSimulacrum\u201d. There are plenty of tempo differences, and the blend between the instruments is good. Even if you are not familiar with Carl Joseph Jung, it is comfortable to listen to, even though the music is quite complex. From time to time, the guitar playing is in the foreground, sometimes compelling, sometimes quite fast and\/or rocking. The wordless vocals return (stacked). Again, the vocals are in harmony with the music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShadow Walker\u201d starts mysteriously, almost darkly. This flows into a more \u201cpeaceful\u201d part. The tempo increases without creating any unrest. Once again, the blend\/variation between the instruments and between rhythm and melody is striking. Some elements return a few times. Meanwhile, there are plenty of details, including in the drumming. After a good build-up, this track also slowly fades out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The epic \u201cThe Shadow Magician\u201d consists of five parts. The first part starts at a fast tempo. The slightly chaotic music contains (short) surprising changes in tempo. Recurring elements keep it balanced. The music almost fades out and transitions to accompanying guitar playing. The touch of music around it is minimal, which makes the guitar playing get even further under my skin. The high, wordless vocals are a special addition, and the tempo remains slow for a while. The change to a faster tempo is quite sudden. Here, too, the wordless vocals fit in perfectly. A little later, the tempo is quite fast, and there is a kind of restlessness in the music. The heavier music flows into a light, atmospheric part, and you can feel the emotion in the guitar playing. This beautiful (last part) ends with a slow fade out.
This forms a beautiful transition to the calm intro of \u201cA Curious Case of Synchronicity\u201d. As in the previous tracks, there are also special twists and styles to be heard here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘The Mask of Sanity’ is about the part of yourself that you keep hidden. When you take off your mask, you encounter things you don’t want to see or feel. There is a remarkable combination of high and low tones. Of course, there are various details and (subtle) changes and styles.
Finally, there is the rather quiet \u201cSong of Innocence\u201d. As this track progresses, you feel that the album is coming to an end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is impossible to hear all the details at once. The bass, like the jazz, is regularly and pleasantly present. Although the songs differ enough from each other, they do form a unity. This is noticeable, among other things, in the recurring elements. ‘The Mask of Sanity’ is a complex album, but thanks to their excellent balance, the compositions really are accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(82\/100) (Own Management)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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