Omni is a Spanish six piece band, rooted in the late Eighties. This is
their third album, released in 2007 and again it contains pure
instrumentally music.
The sound of Omni on Solo Fue Un Sueno has obvious echoes from Seventies
Camel and also reminds me frequently of Dutch Camel-inspired bands Lady Lake
and especially Odyssice (it could have been their new album!): very melodic,
flowing and often sensitive guitar work (compelling in Noche En Malandar,
fiery in Telescopio de Papel en biting wah-wah in Espíritu Libre),
omnipresent interplay between guitar and keyboards, some pitchbend driven
Minimoog sounding soli (like in Telescopio de Papel and the dreamy final
song Salto al Abismo) and finally the use of saxophone (sultry in El Tren De
Rota). Like Seventies Camel the sound by Omni is like a ?warm bath? as on
the Camel albums Mirage and Moonmadness, my favorite Camel-era. Along the
strong guitarwork, the keyboard player colours the compositions very
tasteful with varied vintage keyboards like the Fender Rhodes electric
piano, the violin-Mellotron (wonderful intro on Noche En Malandar), Minimoog
synthesizer, Solina string-ensemble and the Hammond organ (swirling solo in
the alternating highlight Espíritu Libre).
This is not very original symphonic prog but it sounds wonderful with very
good work on guitar and keyboards and tasteful arranged compositions.
(***1/5)
Erik Neuteboom
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