Kalle Wallner, the W and regular guitarist of the German band RPWL, but also the founder of the supergroup Blind Ego, releases in this year 2022 a first album under his name. To carry out this project, he is accompanied by his fellow traveler in RPWL Yogi Lang on keyboards and the very requested Marco Minnemann (Steven Wilson, The Aristocrats, Levin Minnemann Rudess...) on drums.
Paradoxically named "Voices", the record is essentially instrumental. Only 'Three' is sung by Arno Menses, the singer of the band Subsignal who has already crossed the road of Kalle Wallner on "Liquid" from Blind Ego. It is besides this track, halfway between AOR and modern progressive rock, which was chosen to promote the album, although it is not very representative of it. Because if the voice manages to steal the show from the guitars on this track, the other tracks are totally dominated by them, whether it is in the form of riffs, arpeggios or solos. Minnemann's drums are able to give a dynamic presence, while Yogi Lang's synthesizers are limited to a background role most of the time.
Blind Ego's albums have often been pinned in our columns for their lack of originality. A defect that we unfortunately find on "Voices". The compositions unfold melodies which are certainly pleasant but unimaginative. Heavy but classical riffs, and even often repetitive, are decorated with beautiful solos very well executed which make all the salt of this disc but are a little bit insufficient to really hang the listener if he is not a hard-die guitar fan.
Of course, there are still some Gilmour-like flights (or not) that always have an effect and some soaring synth passages a la Tangerine Dream that break the monotony of guitars. The album ends with two good tracks, 'Six' and 'Seven' (which would have deserved to be shortened by the last four minutes) visibly very influenced by Pink Floyd.
Despite pleasant compositions, "Voices" lacks too much originality and surprises to really seduce. If it can be listened to without displeasure, it is not one of those records that incite you to put them back on the turntable as soon as they are finished.