Castle Mountain Moon comprises the duo of Ropp Kohler and Dirk Krause. A Layman’s Guide to Unobtainium is their second album and it’s just been released (September 2026).
Ropp and Dirk kindly sent a CD to me via the always reliable AC at Bad Dog Promotions. My thanks to both.
The blurb sheet with the CD describes Castle Mountain Moon as “what can happen when two software engineers exchange their notebooks for notes and start writing symphonic progressive rock instead” and that A Layman’s Guide to Unobtainium is “eleven songs based around maps.”
So what’s the music like? Let’s explore……
The opening title track is quite a catchy five minutes of melodic prog. We have nicely flowing keys and synths and some crisp guitar. The vocals are clean and with a nicely melodic edge the songs flows well. A nice enough start.
Real? Has heavy, crunchy, punchy guitars getting busy with the synths. A bit of a chilled out mid-section with some moody piano and bass then the fuzzy stuff comes back. Made me think of mid-1990s Rush say Test for Echo.
Maps Part 1 and Maps Part 2 are both generally slower, mild, generally ambient numbers which whilst pleasant enough didn’t hit the spot for me. A bit too mild for my tastes.
The however to that is the ten minute epic which comes between the two Maps parts. That being Valley of the Deep. A sweepingly majestic, expansive and flowing slab of symphonic prog with definite Eastern influences as it rises and falls throughout. We have the lot here – big chords, riffs, keys and synths all working together. An addictive song.
Sadness seems out of place as it meanders along for seven minutes not really going anywhere.
Before My Eyes peps things up a bit being a melodic, catchy sort of acoustic(ish) song featuring more of the flowing synths. Reminded me somewhat of 1970s Styx.
Exit Right feels restrained though gets busy towards the end. Scene of a Crime is quite dramatic and quite intense with a wonderful moody guitar. This one grew on me. A fine song.
Dreamers I think is rather generic. Needs more ooomph.
Overall – Castle Mountain Moon have an album which I don’t dislike. However parts of it are too much on the gentle/ambient side for my tastes.
I do like the title track, Real? Valley of the Deep and Scene of a Crime very much, though I’d have liked more bite put in to the remainder. Just my opinion.
If you do prefer your prog on the quieter side, A Layman’s Guide to Unobtainium will be one you’ll enjoy I think.
My thanks again to the band and AC for arranging for the CD to reach me.
Here’s the title track:
For more about Castle Mountain Moon, visit their web site:
https://cmm-music.de
CDs can be ordered from there. Or if digital is your bag, it’s on Amazon Music here:
https://link.amazon/B0fifGOsJ
And other digital platforms.
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