Satellite

"Into the night" is the final part of a trilogy by Poland's own Satellite, the previous parts being "A Street Between Sunrise And Sunset" (2003, the band's first album) and "Evening Games" (2005). Originally intended as a solo project by Collage's Wojtek Szadkowski, the band have rapidly evolved into one of the finest protagonists of neo-prog currently recording. Jarek Michalski takes over on bass, but the line up is otherwise unchanged. Jarek's bass playing is notable throughout the album, adding an underlying depth to the sound. The music here will appeal not just to those who enjoy the melodic power of bands such as Arena and Porcupine Tree, but also to those who favour the classic prog bands such as Yes and Pink Floyd.

Satellite's forerunner band, Collage, issued a true masterpiece in the mid-90's called Moonshine, which left most if not all critics worldwide unanimously enthused. It was a feat not to be repeated until 2003, when most members of Collage reformed under the name Satellite and gave birth to a debut disc of great songs with gorgeous instrumentation and production (Now, Fight, On the Run). The lead orbiter around whom all seems to revolve is Wojtek Szadkowski's songwriting and playing. One of the main reasons "Moonshine" had such an impact was due to his pen and his sticks, keeping everything dramaticand breathtaking.

It took a few years for the members of Collage, Poland's neo-progressive rock bandwagon, to pick themselves up after the group's breakup in the mid-'90s. A Street Between Sunrise and Sunset can be considered as the group's rightful heir. Written almost completely by drummer Wojtek Szadkowski (who used to be Collage's main songwriter), the album is performed by a cast of ex-Collage musicians (some of them appearing as guests). Lead singer Robert Amirian plays the soft card, aiming for the dreamy seduction of Pendragon instead of the lung-heavy theatrics of Fish. It serves the songs right, as they tend to be on the unassertive side of things.