My head and heart wage war as Tigran Hamasyan’s new album Manifeste plays. The Armenian’s rococo blend of prog-rock, jazz fusion and progressive metal causes my brain to rebel. Yet the pleasure centers in my soul lay siege to cynicism as they recall my juvenile love of Foxtrot, American Garage and 2112.
Conflict breaks out immediately. The opening selection “Prelude for All Seekers” alludes to Genesis’ “Watcher of the Skies.” Elsewhere, Hamasyan applies the grandiosity of the Pat Metheny Group and the pretentiousness of Rush to tracks including “Dardahan.” The absurdities are enlivened by generous infusions of Armenian folk traditions.
Loving the sturm und drang of the ludicrously-titled “A Eye- The Digital Leviathan” in spite of myself makes me believe a truce is possible. By managing to convince myself that Manifeste is a tasteful distillation of its ostentatious inspirations, I’m able to enjoy the 72-minute album in a temporary peace.