Castle Mountain Moon - A Layman's Guide To Unobtainium - Progressive Voyages Review
The Albums Striking cover
This is the latest album from German Duo of Dirk Krauise and Ropp Kohler, Coming just about a year after their Six Degrees of Perception, An album i throughl enjoyed. (it was one of the earliest Progressive Voyages Reviews)
This new album is a themed one. It is one along the theme of maps, Some that lead, Some that lie All aimed at something we wouldnt recognize even if we found it.
This is explored through the albums ten tracks of which the majority are relatively short, Although 2 tracks are 8 plus minutes in length.
The whole shebang begins with the title track A Layman's Guide To Unobtainium
This is a mostly synth driven track although guitars are subdued in to mix, This song is definitely memorable I've been singing the chorus for days!
It is certainly the case that continued listening begins the unveil the treasures buried here, thankfully being retired I have time and opportunity to do just that.
Maybe all music improves this way, I suspect it is probably true as it is here.
Real ? Is next This is a much harder sounding track with lots of powerful guitar lines and also a strong organ presence The lyrics are very clever here and the certainly make a positive impression on you as you hear them. The mid section of the track features a strong bass line accompanied by the organ, creating an interesting dynamic, I also like how the guitars surge towards the tracks conclusion
Maps Part 1 is next this together with Maps Pt 11 lasts for over 12 minutes in duration, Although the songs appears either side of Valley Of The Deep, which makes these three tracks the centrepoint of the album I feel.
Maps Pt 1 follows again using strong dynamics in its opening part, before adirk's vocal begin, The song is about how maps take us on a journey to where we need to be.this is another synth led track. A very atmospheric sounding track. I do like the guitar work at the end of the track it has an urgency and vibrance to it.
Maps 1 & 2 are interrupted by Valley Of The Deep the albums longest track this song has a sinewyhypnotic riff that reoccurs throughout the track, this also has another strong organ partat that begins at the 2.31 mark with strident tones and urgentvdrums powering it all along, before fading to a gentle acoustic guitar and ethereal keyboard sounds, I feel that works well for the track as the juxtaposition of Heavy and lighter sounds works most effectively, at the 5,22 point it gains tempo and more power once again and the organ returns once more, strong power chords are employed and a more atmospheric section is introduced.
I really do like how this song sounds and where it is heading, It is imaginative and stylish with a great sound and composition to it. The guitar solo that emerges at the 8.16 point is very Floydian in both style and tone and wouldn't sound out of place on Dark Side Of The Moon, which is high praise indeed.
Maps PT 2 follows, beginning with a gentle piano motif before drums are added playing solo and the yielding to Dirk's vocals, Here he is singing about being lost but following the Maps lead, it seems that Maps are being used as a metaphor for a relationship that is going through a change that is still being realised.
That would certainly help make sense of the song.
Sadness is up next, This begins withva delicate piano and deep bass notes and light rimshort drums and cymbals then 9nto a marching drumbeat
The vocals are very effective and unusual here as they are part whispered at various points, a great guitar solo links them together well, Another very atmospheric track with great dynamics and performances.
ThThe Ending of this track is an extended instrumental run out with more guitar and synthesisers bass and drumsall leading tova climax and more piano and guitar tones.
Before My Eyes is up next this one begins with gentle strummed acoustic guitar before the vocals begin. The s9ng appears to be about someone coming to the realisation that they have been fooled or duped by things around them and only now that they open their eyes and see what is right before their eyes.
Exit Right is next, Once again we begin with a harder sounding Overture almost before the song begins, The song is about how despite your best laid plans and intentions, life has a way of throwing you a curveball, and does this frequently as well and yet we never learn to embrace it.The track has another extended synth annd guitar outro which is highly effective indeed.
Next track is another longer one Scene Of A Crime,this begins with a synthesiser bass line and thereafter keyboards as the actual bass and guitars are added to the proceedings, I like this one as well in fact the whole album is growing on my greatly.
There is a whole degree of skill on offer here, I really like this album of hidden depths and insights.
The final song of the album is Dreamers, this commences with gentle piano and Orchestrations, the song is gentler although at the 1.05 mark the tempo pick up with bass and drums, still gentle though, guitars enter at the 1.47 point adding colour to the sound, but not overpowering it at all, there is a fine guitar solo at the 2,45 mark that elevates the song, Again it doesn't overpowering the track as the vocals return as does the organ, this gentle song is very elegant and stately in tone.
There is a short reprise at the end of the track with strong organ and drums and the workds A Layman's Guide To Unobtainium, then the album concludes.
I will confess I was not overly impressed originally but subsequent listening have revealed this to be a very good album indeed. Definitely worthy of your consideration.
Info here: https://cmm-music.de
Author John Wenlock-Smith Monday 28th September 2026.